Kris Kristofferson is an unlikely success as a singer. The legendary country artist started out as a working songwriter, penning songs made famous by Johnny Cash (“Sunday Morning Coming Down”), Janis Joplin (“Me and Bobby McGee”) and Sammi Smith (“Help Me Make It Through the Night”), among many others, even as his own versions struggled to achieve the same recognition. Thanks to support from fans and colleagues like Cash, Joplin and Waylon Jennings, Kristofferson eventually made his mark as a solo artist, starting with 1971 hit “Lovin’ Her Was Easier (Than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again).” His rough, craggy voice and talk-singing style have been a staple of country music ever since.
Along with Cash, Jennings and Willie Nelson, Kristofferson formed the popular outlaw-country supergroup The Highwaymen, and his songs continue to be touchstones for young artists outside the country mainstream. Kristofferson has also had a long and successful acting career, and his performance opposite Barbra Streisand in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born was a clear influence on Bradley Cooper’s recent remake. In 2016, Kristofferson was nominated for a Grammy for his latest album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, just the latest accolade in his long, eclectic career.
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26, starting at $39 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000
