Dolly Parton Mourns ‘Great Loss’ of Friend Kris Kristofferson: “I Will Always Love You”
Sept. 29, 2023 — Dolly Parton is honoring the memory of her dear friend and fellow country music legend, Kris Kristofferson, following his death on Sept. 28 at the age of 88. The heartfelt tribute from Parton came just one day after Kristofferson’s passing, and she expressed her deep sorrow over the loss of both a musical icon and a cherished friend.
On Instagram, Parton shared a touching message, reflecting on Kristofferson’s prolific career as a singer, songwriter, and actor. “What a great loss, what a great writer, what a great actor, what a great friend,” Parton wrote, adding the phrase, “I will always love you,” a sentiment that seemed to echo the timeless connection the two shared.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(499x0:501x2):format(webp)/dolly-parton-Kris-Kristofferson-092924-2-a694d8ae1e01401186345db90f41e0f1.jpg)
She concluded her message with her signature sign-off, “Dolly,” and included a butterfly graphic — a symbol often associated with love and remembrance.Kristofferson and Parton had a long and treasured friendship, frequently collaborating on music and performances over the years.
The duo’s most notable collaborations include songs like “From Here to the Moon and Back” and “Put It Off Until Tomorrow.” Their musical bond reached new heights in 1982, when they teamed up with fellow country stars Willie Nelson and Brenda Lee to release the collaborative album The Winning Hand. This project later inspired a TV special of the same name, which aired in 1985 and was hosted by the legendary Johnny Cash.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2):format(webp)/dolly-parton-Kris-Kristofferson-092924-1-2f3865ed4cb64059acaadc0f32b7376e.jpg)
Earlier this month, Parton shared a nostalgic clip on Facebook of herself and Kristofferson performing “Ping Pong,” a whimsical track from The Winning Hand. In the post’s caption, she expressed her joy at having made music with so many talented artists throughout the years.
“There’s nothing like making music with friends!” she wrote, tagging Kristofferson and asking fans which of their duets was their favorite.Kristofferson reshared the post on his own Facebook, writing, “Thank you for sharing this, Dolly Parton.” The two had continued to express their affection for each other over the years, with Parton wishing Kristofferson a happy birthday in June 2019, sharing a throwback photo of them together.
Kristofferson, also renowned for his acting in films like A Star Is Born, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, and the Blade trilogy, passed away peacefully at his home in Maui, surrounded by family. His death marks the end of a legendary era in both country music and cinema.