Kris Kristofferson's Death at 88 Leaves Country Queens Dolly Parton, 78, and Barbra Streisand, 82, Reeling Over Their Mortality: 'It's Made Them Even More Aware of How Precious Life Is'
Kris Kristofferson’s death at 88 leaves 78-year-old Dolly Parton and 82-year-old Barbra Streisand reflecting on mortality.
Oct. 18 2024, Published 7:00 a.m. ET
Kris Kristofferson's death is still reverberating from Hollywood to Nashville — leaving Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton and other aging pals deeply mourning his loss and contemplating their own mortality.
Kris, a Rhodes scholar turned country singer, songwriter and actor, passed away at his home in Maui on September 28 at age 88, surrounded by his family.
No further details were released.
Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton are among the ‘aging pals’ deeply morning Kris Kristofferson’s loss and they contemplate their own mortality, sources said.
Kris wasn't believed to be in grave health, so his death was a real shock to his onetime costar and lover Streisand, 82, and Parton, 78, who are both said to be beside themselves with grief and struggling with their own sense of vulnerability.
Revealed an insider: "It's made them even more aware of how precious life is, and they've vowed to live every day as though it were their last.
"They loved Kris for the gifted artist and sensitive soul he was. You talk to either one of them, and they'll say they still can't believe he's gone. They're in shock."
Kris Kristoffer’s death made the people close to him aware of how precious life is, and they've vowed to live every day as though it were their last
In an online tribute, Parton wrote: "What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend … I will always love you."
Streisand had reminisced about Kristofferson in her 2023 memoir, My Name Is Barbra, including her first impression as he performed at the Troubadour in West Hollywood.
An insider said, Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton, ‘loved Kris for the gifted artist and sensitive soul he was.’
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"There he was onstage so beautiful ... with perfect white teeth and barefoot,” she wrote.
"Incredibly sexy. I thought, Hmmm."
The two would go on to play star-crossed lovers in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born, a romance that was mirrored in real life.
Kristofferson also had a fling with tragic singer Janis Joplin, who recorded his iconic song “Me and Bobby McGee” shortly before her death in 1970.
An insider said, Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton, ‘loved Kris for the gifted artist and sensitive soul he was.’
As RadarOnline.com readers know, the gravelly-voiced star who was raised in Brownsville, Texas, once suffered from memory loss that docs initially thought was Alzheimer's but was eventually diagnosed as Lyme disease.
Once properly medicated, most of the symptoms vanished, and he went back to performing.
In April 2023, Kris Kristoffeson joined a roster of other stars, including Rosanne Cash and Norah Jones, to celebrate Willie Nelson's 90th birthday at L.A.'s Hollywood Bowl.
In April 2023, Kris joined a roster of other stars, including Rosanne Cash and Norah Jones, to celebrate Willie Nelson's 90th birthday at L.A.'s Hollywood Bowl.
Said the insider: "Who knew Willie's birthday bash would be his final performance?
"Everyone thought he was indestructible. It just puts everything in perspective in their own lives, and they're going to make each day count in honor of Kris."
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