Kris Kristofferson was surrounded by loads of love — and expertise! — throughout his life because of his eight youngsters: Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Kelly Marie and Blake.
The beloved singer-songwriter, who died “peacefully” at home on Sept. 28 at age 88, shared daughter Tracy and son Kris Jr. along with his former highschool sweetheart, Frances Beer. Following their divorce, Kris fell in love with singer Rita Coolidge. Throughout their seven-year marriage, they welcomed a daughter named Casey. In 1983, Kris married movie star hairstylist Lisa Meyers. The pair welcomed daughter Kelly Marie and sons Jesse, Jody, Johnny and Blake throughout their 41-year marriage.
In 2021, Kris, who suffered from memory loss, introduced his retirement from nation music. It was revealed that his son Johnny, who holds a legislation diploma from Pepperdine College, would take over the family’s business in partnership with Morris Higham Administration.
“It has been wonderful to dig into my dad’s catalog and historical past with this seasoned group of pros … I can not think about a greater partnership to carry the total depth of his songwriting to a brand new technology,” Johnny stated in a press launch obtained by PEOPLE. “The title has all the time been synonymous with songwriting as an artwork, and we’re excited to reintroduce his work to new and outdated followers alike.”
Kris was surrounded by household when he died at his residence in Maui on Sept. 28, a consultant for the nation star informed PEOPLE.
His household additionally shared an announcement, saying, “It’s with a heavy coronary heart that we share the information our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, handed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at residence. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thanks for loving him all these a few years, and whenever you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”
Right here’s the whole lot to learn about Kris Kristofferson’s eight kids: Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Kelly Marie and Blake.
Tracy Kristofferson, 62
Tracy was born on Jan. 9, 1962. She is the oldest of the Kristofferson kids and Kris’ first youngster from his marriage to highschool sweetheart Frances Beer.
Whereas a pupil at Stanford College, Tracy was in a harmful high-speed motorbike incident with five-time Olympic gold medalist Eric Heiden. She sustained a severe head damage, leading to Kris canceling his live performance in Sweden so he might rush residence to be by her aspect. ”My daughters imply the whole lot on this planet to me,” Kris informed The New York Times on the time.
Tracy made a full restoration, graduated from school, and went on to have a profession in Hollywood. She made her performing debut in 1985’s Bother in Thoughts, which led her to star in 1990’s Evening of the Cyclone and A Place to Develop in 1995. That very same yr she was credited as affiliate producer for the movie Pharaoh’s Military.
She shares one youngster with actor Richard Tyson, whom she divorced in 2017.
Kris Kristofferson Jr., 56
Kris and Frances’ second youngster, a son named Kris Jr., was born on Jan. 20, 1968 — a yr earlier than the pair cut up. Regardless of inheriting one of the vital well-known monikers in nation music, Kris Jr. has lived a comparatively non-public life.
Casey Kristofferson, 50
Born on March 21, 1974, Casey is the daughter of seventies singer Rita Coolidge. Coolidge met Kris on a airplane experience from Los Angeles to Memphis in 1971 and was immediately obsessed with the nation artist. The pair collaborated on various tasks collectively up till their divorce in 1980.
“I wish to say that it was ‘love at first flight,’ ” Coolidge recalled to PEOPLE. “Earlier than we went to sleep that evening we might picked out a reputation for our first youngster. There was little doubt in my thoughts that we have been going to be collectively.”
Regardless of having grown up on the street along with her well-known dad and mom, Casey was in no rush to see her personal title on the marquee. She carried out with the Asheville Ballet earlier than opening her personal dance college at Black Mountain Heart for the Arts in North Carolina.
“After being raised on the street, I’ve all the time prevented the highlight. I gravitated extra in direction of the punk rock scene, classical ballet, and music. Virtually something to not be acknowledged only for my title,” she stated in an Asheville Movies interview.
In 2019, the Casey Kristofferson Band was shaped and so they launched their debut report, Soiled Toes. The album, which was predominantly written by Casey, includes a cowl of Kris’ 1971 hit, “Me and Bobby McGee.”
“When the youngsters have been little and I used to be dancing I didn’t have loads of time to do music,” she informed Black Mountain News in 2019. “One in every of my daughters has now graduated from school and my different two are 14 and 11, so I’ve a little bit extra wiggle room.”
Casey shares three daughters along with her ex-husband.
Jesse Kristofferson, 40
Jesse was born on Oct. 7, 1983, and is the primary youngster Kris welcomed with spouse Lisa Meyers. He briefly dabbled as an actor, touchdown roles on Planet of the Apes (2001), the 2010 TV sequence Gigantic and Bloodline (2013). Nonetheless, he’s most notably recognized for starring as Neil Hultgrin on Days of Our Lives. Since leaving Hollywood in 2013, Jesse has recused from the limelight.
Jody Kristofferson, 39
Jody was born on Might 21, 1985. Whereas he didn’t catch the performing or singing bug like a few of his siblings, he did inherit his father’s pure stage presence. Jody was knowledgeable wrestler for the WWE.
He fought within the WWE beneath the ring title Jody Reese and has since retired from the game.
Johnny Kristofferson
Kris and Lisa welcomed their third son, Johnny, in 1988. Johnny earned a legislation diploma from Pepperdine College, which additionally occurs to be his mom’s alma mater. He took over the household enterprise following Kris’ retirement from music in 2021.
Kelly Marie Kristofferson, 33
Born on Nov. 1, 1990, Kelly Marie is Kris and Lisa’s solely daughter. She has carved a reputation out for herself as each an actress and musician. She’s appeared in 2016’s Traded and the 2017 quick Pimp My Life. Kelly Marie can be set to provide and star within the forthcoming crime drama Little Lamb.
In 2013, she confirmed off her singing chops whereas singing alongside Kris on the Magnolia Fest in Florida. The pair carried out a father-daughter rendition of his track “The Surprise.”
She is married to painter Aydin Hanami, whom she wed in 2018.
Blake Kristofferson, 30
Kris’ youngest son, Blake, was born on July 27, 1994. Following in his massive brother’s footsteps, Blake studied at Pepperdine College. Like a few of his siblings, Blake has fostered a life out of the highlight.