Kristoffer Kristofferson (June 22, 1936 – September 29, 2024) was a pioneer of the outlaw country music genre, a prolific songwriter, and a Hollywood actor. In 1958, he received a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he began his music career, albeit to little success. After returning to the United States, he joined the army. In 1965, he moved to Nashville where he worked odd jobs while pitching his songs, eventually gaining the attention of Johnny Cash and other major country artists. Some of Kristofferson's early writing credits include "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through The Night," and "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" for which he won his first Country Music Association Award in 1970. Between 1971 and 1975, he released a string of successful singles with Rita Coolidge and became a member of The Highwaymen in 1985. In 2021, Kristofferson retired from music. On September 29, 2024, he passed away at 88.