He wrote the song "Me and Bobbie (later Bobby) McGee" which Janis Joplin recorded. The song was a hit for Roger Miller in 1969, who started recording it even before Kristofferson was done writing it.

1970: Won the coveted Country Music Song of the Year Award for his song, "Sunday Morning Coming Down", as well as the Country Music Songwriter of the Year Award.

He got the leading male role of "A Star is Born" (1976) after Elvis Presley couldn't do it. Elvis has also recorded a song written by Kristofferson.

A young Kris Kristofferson can be seen on one of of his album covers in Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver (1976).

Father of Tracy Kristofferson and Kris Kristofferson (b. 1968) with Frances Beir. Casey Kristofferson (b. 1974) with Rita Coolidge. Jesse Turner Kristofferson (b. 1984), Jody Ray Kristofferson (b. 1985), Johnny Kristofferson (b. 1988), Kelly Marie Kristofferson (b. 1991) and Blake Cameron Kristofferson (b. 1994) with Lisa Meyers.

Rhodes Scholar

He got his start in the music business by landing a helicopter in Johnny Cash's backyard and presenting him with a song he had written. Cash went on to record the song

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004

Brother of Karen Kirschenbauer.

In June of 1999 Kristofferson underwent elective heart bypass

Was a member of The Highwaymen with fellow country music stars Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson.

Has been awarded an honorary Doctorate from Pomona College

Dated Janis Joplin

Attended Pomona College in Claremont, California with a BA in Creative Literature, graduated 1958.

Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985.

Special guest at Roger Ebert's 4th annual Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, Illinois in March 2002 where his film A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998) was one of 14 neglected movies screened.