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Cameron County issued a statement Monday memorializing Brownsville native Kris Kristofferson, the award-winning singer-songwriter and actor who died on Saturday at his home in Maui, Hawaii, at the age of 88.
“It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Brownsville and Cameron County native, Kris Kristofferson,” the county said.
Kristofferson was born June 22, 1936. His father, Lars Henry Kristofferson, was a chief pilot for Pan American World Airways, which had its Western Division Headquarters in Brownsville.
The younger Kristofferson went on to become a Rhodes Scholar, Golden Gloves boxer and Army Ranger before entering the music business. His first album, “Kristofferson,” was released in 1970. Reissued in 1971 as “Me and Bobby McGee,” it became a Bill Country Music Top 10 album. Among his many music industry awards, Kristofferson’s song “Help Me Make it Through the Night” won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 1972.
In 1977, he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for “A Star is Born,” playing opposite Barbra Streisand. From 1985 to 1995, Kristofferson was a member of The Highwaymen, performing alongside fellow legends Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. He was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, and the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
“Kristofferson has said on numerous documented occasions that Brownsville, Texas, was his favorite place on the planet,” the county said. “While he and his family moved around, they always returned to Brownsville. … Kristofferson’s fond memories of his time in Brownsville coupled with his fame, helped to bring awareness to the region, Cameron County and Brownsville.”
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Kris Kristofferson,” said Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. “Kristofferson’s very public affection for Brownsville and the time he spent here as a child will be cherished. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and fans throughout the world. May he rest in peace.”
Treviño said the county will honor Kristofferson’s legacy with a resolution on Oct. 8, noting that the planned downtown “via Americas” riverfront redevelopment project for Brownsville would feature a Cultural Revival and Musical Revue District that would include the Kris Kristofferson Events Park and an exhibit housing memorabilia from the star’s decades-long career in music and film.
Kristofferson’s family has given their blessing to the project. In July 2022, his son John Kristofferson appeared via Zoom before a county commission meeting to express support for creating a county Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone to help move the project forward.
He said his father had never endorsed such a project before, but was honored to learn that his hometown wanted to create a space bearing his name, John Kristofferson said, adding that the project had “a lot of importance to my family.” He said the family wished to “breathe life into this” project and hoped it could be accomplished while his father was still alive.
“In doing so we do believe you are honoring my dad’s legacy,” John Kristofferson said. “He’s always been very proud of the fact that he comes from Brownsville — more than Nashville, Los Angeles, Hollywood, anywhere else. Brownsville’s always been his home and that’s where he’s always been proudest of.”
