Kris Kristofferson Biography

Fast Facts

• Has received the Songwriter Hall of Fame Johnny Mercer Award
• Performed at the Grammy Foundation in 2014, an organization that aims to preserve and recognize musical past
• A former Captain in the U․S․ Army, he received the Veteran of the Year Award in 2003
• Inducted in to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004
• Graduated from Pomona College with a degree in literature and was a member of the Kappa Delta fraternity, and later received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater
• Was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he studied literature
• After college, he embarked on a singing career in an attempt to gain promotion with the dream of becoming a successful novelist
• While struggling as a songwriter and working as a helicopter pilot, he decided to land in Johnny Cash's yard in order to give the musician some of his tapes
• Quote: "Never give up, which is the lesson I learned from boxing․ As soon as you learn to never give up, you have to learn the power and wisdom of unconditional surrender ․․․ The wisdom of it comes as you get older․"
• Landed the lead role in "A Star Is Born" after Elvis Presley was unavailable for the film
• Was offered a chance to teach at the United States Military Academy, but turned it down
• Appeared in the 1958 edition of "Faces in the Crowd" of the Sports Illustrated magazine for his achievements in rugby, football, and track and field