Country Music Icon Kris Kristofferson Passes: A Hollywood Legend Remembered

No one turns down a chance to take a picture with a living legend. Not even Taylor Swift who poses with Kris Kristofferson.Photo byphoto by Kris Kristofferson Instagram Page

Hollywood has lost a legend, and country music lost an all-time singer and songwriter. Kris Kistofferson passed away today at the age of 88. He was said to have passed away surrounded by friends and family in Maui, Hawaii.

His family released a statement to announce his passing. “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.” Minutes after the announcement of his passing, the Country Music Hall of Fame; which he is a member of; put up a tribute to him on their website.

His music career took off when he wrote such amazing songs as Ray Price's hit For The Good Times, Sunday Morning Coming Down for Johnny Cash, and Me and Bobby McGee, which went #1 in the pop charts with the late Janis Joplin singing the song. He had several more hits in his illustruous career.

Kristofferson also conquered the movies as he became known for acting in the movies "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and A Star is Born with Barbara Streisand in which he won a Golden Globe for "Best Actor". He has dozens of awards for his musical talents and was in over 121 telivion shows and movies.

Kristofferson was also an artist that was a part of the outlaw country music artists that wanted to buck the classic country music genre and play hardcore music with an edge. It went against the clean cut and crisp style of the present-day country music. Kristofferson will always be considered one of the great talents in both music and acting.