Barbra Streisand pays tribute to Kris Kristofferson following his death… 48 years after they starred in A Star Is Born: ‘He was something special’

Barbra Streisand shared a touching tribute to her A Star is Born co-star Kris Kristofferson after he passed away on Saturday.

Streisand, 82, shared on Instagram on Sunday a nostalgic image of the album cover of A Star is Born, released in 1976 along with the film, and a more recent photo of her and the country singer-songwriter and actor performing together.

“The first time I saw Kris perform at the Troubadour club in LA I knew he was something special,” she wrote in the caption.

“Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing that would eventually become A Star Is Born.”

“In the film, Kris and I sang the song I wrote for the main love theme of the film, ‘Evergreen.’

‘For my last concert in 2019 in London’s Hyde Park, I asked Kris to join me on stage to sing our other A Star Is Born duet, ‘Lost Inside Of You’. He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause. It was a joy to see him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved.”

She concluded her post by offering condolences to Kristofferson’s family.

“My thoughts go out to Kris’ wife, Lisa, who I know supported him in every way possible.”

Kristofferson played the role of troubled rocker John Norman Howard in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born opposite Streisand.

He won the Golden Globe in 1977 for his work in the film.

The 1976 version of A Star is Born, which has been remade four times, featured the No. 1 song “Love Theme From A Star is Born,” written by Streisand.

The song won Streisand a 1978 Grammy Award and an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 1977 Academy Awards.

The film received four Golden Globe awards in 1977.

The iconic film was recently remade in 2018 and starred Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper.

The multi-talented entertainer died Saturday at his home in Maui, Hawaii, his rep told People.

Kristofferson died ‘peacefully’ surrounded by family members.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 28,” his family said in a statement, the outlet reported. “We are all so blessed for our time with him.”

“Thank you for loving him all these years, and when you see a rainbow, know that he is smiling at us all.”

Kristofferson’s other major acting efforts include a turn as the character Whistler in the Wesley Snipes action films Blade (1998), Blade II (2002) and Blade: Trilogy (2004).

He also starred opposite Ellen Burstyn in director Martin Scorsese’s 1974 film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.

Hollywood may have saved his music career. He continued to gain fame through his film and television appearances, even if he could not afford to tour with a full band.

His musical career began in the late 1960s, when the Brownsville, Texas native wrote such classics as Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down, Help Me Make it Through the Night, For the Good Times and Me and Bobby McGee.

Kristofferson was a singer himself, but many of his songs were best known because they were performed by others, whether it was Ray Price singing For the Good Times or Janis Joplin belting out Me and Bobby McGee.

Kristofferson, who could recite William Blake by heart, wove intricate folk music lyrics about loneliness and tender romance into popular country music.

Hits that Kristofferson recorded include Why Me, Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do), Watch Closely Now, Desperados Waiting for a Train, A Song I’d Like to Sing and Jesus Was a Capricorn.

“There’s not a better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Willie Nelson said at an awards ceremony for Kristofferson in November 2009, held by BMI. ‘Everything he writes is a standard and we will all have to live with that.’

Sometimes Kristofferson’s legend was bigger than real life. Johnny Cash liked to tell a largely exaggerated story about how Kristofferson, a former U.S. Army pilot, landed a helicopter on Cash’s lawn to give him a tape of Sunday Mornin’ “Comin’ Down” with a beer in one hand.

Over the years, Kristofferson said in interviews with all due respect to Cash that even though he landed a helicopter at Cash’s house, the Man in Black wasn’t even home at the time, the demo tape was a song that no one had ever actually cut and he certainly could don’t fly a helicopter with a beer in hand.

In a 2006 interview with The Associated Press, he said that without Cash he might not have had a career.

“Shaking his hand when I was backstage with the Army at the Grand Ole Opry was the moment I decided I was going to come back,” Kristofferson said. ‘It was electric. He took me under his wing a little bit before he cut one of my songs. He made my first record, which was record of the year. He put me on stage for the first time.’

Kristofferson retired from performing and recording in 2021, making only occasional guest appearances on stage.

As news of his death spread, a number of people and institutions posted memorials for Kristofferson online.

Dolly Parton wrote: ‘What a great loss. What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you, Dolly.’

Country artist Travis Tritt said, “Sad to hear of the passing of Kris Kristofferson. He was an inspiration to me and I was lucky enough to meet him on the set of Outlaw Justice which we filmed in Spain in 1998. My sincere condolences go out to Kris’ wife Lisa and all his family, friends and fans.”

Country artist John Rich said: “So sad to hear of Kris Kristofferson’s passing. He and I have become friends over the years, and it was an honor every time I got to work with him or hang out with him. He was one of the greatest lyricists ever, and a real class act. He set the bar so very high. I miss you brother.’