Before Kris Kristofferson ever took the stage in Nashville, he had already lived a lifetime’s worth of experiences. At Pomona College, he was not only a football star and a Golden Gloves boxer but also an exceptional student. Encouraged by a professor, he applied for and won a Rhodes Scholarship, and at Oxford, he found his true passion for writing—both literature and songs.
When he returned to the U.S., everyone expected him to follow an academic path. But Kris surprised them all: he joined the Army, trained as a helicopter pilot, and earned the rank of captain. He was even offered a teaching position at West Point, which he declined because his heart was set elsewhere.
He moved to Nashville, scraping by as a janitor and taking odd jobs while writing songs that went unnoticed—until Johnny Cash recorded “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” That one song changed everything, opening the door to what became one of the most remarkable careers in American music history.
Today, Kris Kristofferson remains with us, a living example of how one person can live many lives—and how true courage is sometimes found in leaving certainty behind to follow what you love.