Willie Nelson Remembers Kris Kristofferson: ‘I Really Didn’t Want to Lose Him’
Nelson and Kristofferson were part of the legendary outlaw country band, The Highwaymen.
Willie Nelson is honoring his late bandmate Kris Kristofferson.
In an interview with The Associated Press published on Friday, Nelson spoke about the impact of Kristofferson’s passing, as he was a member of The Highwaymen alongside Kristofferson.
Kris Kristofferson passed away on September 28 at his home in Maui, Hawaii, as confirmed by a representative to YSL News. His age at the time was 88, and the cause of death has not been made public.
“Kris was a wonderful friend to me,” shared Nelson, who is now 91. “We had so much fun together, making music, videos, and movies. Losing him was hard. It was a really sad time.”
Nelsn and Kristofferson were key members of The Highwaymen, along with country legends Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, starting in 1985. Their first album, “Highwayman,” hit the top of Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, and the title song became a number one hit.
The group also showcased their musical talents in the 1986 Western television movie “Stagecoach.”
Following their second album “Highwayman 2” in 1990, The Highwaymen released their last album, “The Road Goes on Forever,” in 1995.
“Kris was an exceptional songwriter,” Nelson commented to AP. “He left behind many incredible songs for us to enjoy and sing, and that will last as long as we’re here.”
After Kristofferson’s death, Nelson became the last living member of The Highwaymen. Jennings passed away from diabetes complications in February 2002, and Cash followed, dying from similar complications in September 2003.
