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Following news the death of Kris Kristofferson at the age of 88 on Sept. 28, tributes have poured in from some of the biggest names in the music industry, honoring the legendary songwriter and actor whose influence spanned decades.
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Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, Eric Church, and more have shared personal reflections on the man they admired, loved, and called a friend.
Dolly shared a close friendship with Kristofferson, with the pair performing duets such as “From Here to the Moon and Back” and “Put It Off Until Tomorrow” over the years.
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“What a great loss,” Dolly said. “What a great writer. What a great actor. What a great friend. I will always love you.”
Country star Reba McEntire said, “What a gentleman, kind soul, and a lover of words. I am so glad I got to meet him and be around him. One of my favorite people. Rest in peace, Kris.”
Travis Tritt, who appeared in the spaghetti Western TV movie Outlaw Country alongside Kristofferson wrote, “Sad to hear of Kris Kristofferson’s passing. He was an inspiration to me and I was fortunate to get to know him on the set of Outlaw Justice that we filmed in Spain in 1998. My heartfelt condolences go out to Kris’s wife, Lisa and all of his family, friends and fans.”
For songwriter Diane Warren, Kristofferson was the epitome of a multi-talented artist.
She wrote, “Brilliant songwriter, Rhodes scholar, great actor, not to mention criminally handsome,” she noted in her tribute. “How often do U get all that in one human? Write in Power forever Kris Kristofferson. We are losing too many greats and we just lost another one.”
Country star Eric Church shared his admiration for Kristofferson as both a role model and a friend. “The ultimate life well lived. Thank you for being a beacon of light in a darkening world. You were my hero and my role model. And even then, you managed to exceed my expectations when you became my friend.”
“So long Captain. Till we meet again.”
Rosanne Cash, singer and daughter of legend Johnny Cash, said: “Here was a man. A man I knew most of my life. A piece of my heart and family history. I expected he’d leave the planet fairly soon, but it doesn’t change the magnitude of the loss.”
Cash’s words hold even more weight considering one of Kristofferson’s final public performances was with her. The two performed a heartfelt duet of “Lovin’ You Was Easier” at Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday celebration in April 2023.
She continued, “And yet we will always have him— his enormous legacy, his resonant spirit, the lasting power of his authenticity, his staggering gifts as a poet— in word, on screen, in his being. For the last several decades, there was no Kris without Lisa and her beauty and steadfastness is a constant inspiration. I send you all my love, Lisa.”
“Travel safe, dear brother. I will always love you.”
Barbra Streisand, who co-starred with Kristofferson in the 1976 version of A Star Is Born, also paid tribute to him earlier, recalling the first time she saw him perform at L.A.’s Troubadour. Their on-screen chemistry in A Star Is Born helped cement both actors’ status in Hollywood, with the film’s soundtrack—featuring their duet “Evergreen”—becoming a No. 1 hit on the Billboard 200.
Barbra Streisand has shared a heartfelt tribute to her A Star Is Born co-star Kris Kristofferson, who passed away at age 88 on Sept. 28.
Reflecting on their friendship and professional partnership, Streisand spoke of the qualities that made Kristofferson not just a talented performer, but also a deeply respected figure in both music and film.
“The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A., I knew he was something special,” Streisand wrote on social media. “Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became A Star Is Born.”
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Their collaboration on the 1976 version of A Star Is Born became one of the most iconic moments in both of their careers. Streisand starred as Esther Hoffman, an aspiring singer whose career ascends as her lover, played by Kristofferson, spirals into self-destruction. Kristofferson’s portrayal of the troubled rock star John Norman Howard earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, while Streisand’s performance cemented her as a powerhouse in film and music.
In the film, the duo performed “Evergreen,” the love theme that Streisand herself had written for the movie. The song went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song, becoming a hallmark of their collaboration. Streisand fondly recalled the magic of their musical partnership: “In the movie, Kris and I sang the song I’d written for the film’s main love theme, ‘Evergreen.’”
Their chemistry on-screen translated into a genuine friendship that endured beyond the film’s success. Streisand reminisced about a memorable moment from her 2019 concert in London’s Hyde Park, where she invited Kristofferson to join her on stage.
“For my latest concert in 2019 at London’s Hyde Park, I asked Kris to join me on-stage to sing our other A Star Is Born duet, ‘Lost Inside Of You.’ He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause. It was a joy seeing him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved,” she shared.
Their collaboration on A Star Is Born not only marked a significant moment in cinema but saw Kristofferson’s transition from country music star to acclaimed actor.
By the time he took on the role of John Norman Howard, Kristofferson was already well-established in the country music scene, having penned classics like “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” His rugged charm made him a natural fit for the role, and his performance opposite Streisand brought a depth to the film that made it a lasting classic.
Streisand closed with a message of sympathy for Kristofferson’s family, particularly his wife of 40 years, Lisa. “My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible,” she wrote.
Kristofferson’s career saw him secure 19 entries on the Billboard 200, including the No. 1 A Star is Born soundtrack alongside Streisand. He also claimed three No. 1 albums on the Top Country Albums chart, including Jesus Was a Capricorn and Full Moon with Rita Coolidge. His songwriting became legendary, with hits like “Me and Bobby McGee” (No. 1 for Janis Joplin), “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” (No. 1 for Johnny Cash), “For the Good Times” (No. 1 for Ray Price), and “Help Me Make It Through the Night” (No. 1 for Sammi Smith).
Read Barbra Streisand’s tribute to Kris Kristofferson below.
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After starring in ‘Empire’ and creating his own films ‘B-Boy Blues’ and ‘The Lost Holiday,’ Jussie Smollett sits down to share how ‘Empire’ contributed to his growth, what it was like to create ‘The Lost Holiday,’ and his experiences facing public scrutiny.
Billboard magazine is pleased to welcome Jussie Smollett. Good to see you, sir.
Thank you for having me. Nice to see you too.
Good, good. Mr. Multi-Hyphenate, between singing, acting, directing, songwriting, producing, and probably more I don’t even know about, but I wanted to ask you about how singing and acting work creatively together for you. Why is that such a thing for you?
I’ve been so blessed and a little lucky, you know, to be able to do certain projects that just so happened to have a musical component, particularly obviously with ‘Empire,’ that was just the perfect kind of marriage of so many of my loves. Music has always been the driving force behind everything I do, even when making movies, when creating, now that I’m directing and writing and producing and things like that. It’s still, music is the thing that I listen to when I’m writing. Music is the thing that I’m listening to as I’m creating the storyboards of how the scenes are gonna look. And then music is absolutely what guides the edit. So music is just, you know, it’s where I sit.
When you were cast and filming that first season, did you think it was going to do what it did?
I didn’t think about it, because I was just so happy to have a job, and I was so happy to be doing what I love, and, you know, working with great people. And I really didn’t think about that. I just trusted the process.
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Sabrina Carpenter love the taste of chart victory. The U.S. pop artist and actor leads Australia’s charts once more with “Taste” and Short n’ Sweet, respectively.
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When the ARIA Singles Chart was published late Friday, Sept. 27, “Taste” was on top for the fifth straight week, lifting her total number of weeks at No. 1 this year to eight – more than any other artist. The next best is Benson Boone, with six total weeks at the ARIA Chart summit, all clocked up by “Beautiful Things.”
With “Taste” in the lead, the podium is closed out by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die With A Smile” and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” respectively.
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Over on the ARIA Albums Chart, Short n’ Sweet logs a fourth non-consecutive week at No. 1, ahead of Katy Perry’s new arrival 143, dropping in No. 2.
That’s Perry’s fifth top 10 album following Teenage Dream (No. 1 for two weeks in 2010), Prism (No. 1 for one week in 2013), Witness (No. 2 in 2017) and her recent LP Smile, which peaked at No. 2 in 2020.
Meanwhile, Keith Urban swings in with High, new at No. 3. The Aussie country star played a surprise gig in his hometown Brisbane, ahead of the release of High, his 11th studio effort. He’ll return in the second-half of 2025 for a major arena jaunt.
A six-time ARIA Award-winner, Urban previously hit No. 1 on the ARIA Chart with The Story So Far (in 2012), Fuse (2013), Ripcord (2016) and The Speed Of Now Part 1 (2020).
Also new to the top tier is homegrown indie band The Rubens, new No. 4 with SODA, their sixth album. SODA is the band’s fifth top 10 appearance after 2012’s self-titled debut (peaking at No.3), 2015’s Hoops (No. 2), 2018’s Lo La Ru (No. 3) and 2021’s 0202 (No. 1 for one week).
The Rubens have collected a brace of ARIA Awards, and in January 2016 won triple j’s Hottest 100 countdown with “Hoops.”
Kylie Minogue is back, and she’s turning up the heat with her brand-new single, “Lights Camera Action,” released today (Sept. 27).
The track is the first single from her highly anticipated upcoming album Tension II, out Oct. 18, via Mushroom Music.
“Lights Camera Action” sees the Australian pop legend dive deeper into the electronic world, continuing the nightclub-inspired sound that made her last album Tension a global hit.
Produced by Lewis Thompson and co-written by Kylie, Thompson, and Ina Wroldsen (the co-writer behind her previous hit, “Padam Padam“), the single is packed with high-energy beats fit for the dance floor.
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The track serves as a celebration of all things glamorous, with the accompanying music video—directed by Sophie Muller and shot in Budapest—seeing the pop queen take on multiple iconic roles, from a film star to a photographer. Fans don’t have to wait long to catch the full visual spectacle, with the video set to premiere at 6 AM PT.
Kylie’s upcoming album, Tension II, is shaping up to be a powerhouse sequel to her previous album, with collaborations featuring The Blessed Madonna, Orville Peck, Bebe Rexha, Tove Lo, and Sia.
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The release of “Lights Camera Action” sets the stage for the superstar’s next chapter, with the Tension Tour kicking off in her homeland of Australia in February 2025. The tour is poised to be Kylie’s biggest since 2011’s Aphrodite: Les Folies Tour, with tickets going on sale Oct. 2.
This year has already been massive for the icon, who nabbed the Global Icon Award at the BRITs and won a Grammy for Best Pop Dance Recording for “Padam Padam.” She also wrapped up her Las Vegas residency and headlined London’s BST Hyde Park to rave reviews.
Stream “Lights Camera Action” below.
Country superstar Luke Bryan has officially dropped his eighth studio album Mind of a Country Boy, available everywhere today, Sept. 27.
The new release marks Bryan’s return to the album circuit after four years, and fans can expect a collection of 14 tracks that dive deep into the themes of family, music, and the simple country life Bryan embodies.
Reuniting with longtime producers Jeff and Jody Stevens, Mind of a Country Boy offers a mix of reflective ballads and feel-good anthems.
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Fans have already gotten a taste of the project with the single “Closing Time in California,” which dropped last month.
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“I’ve been able to take my time and really compile songs for this album,” Bryan previously said in a statement.
“If it’s a song that I cut two or three years ago, and I still love it, and it still sounds fresh, then I feel like it’ll stand the test of time.
“I think this album, as I’ve tried to do with all my albums, just has a little bit of everything,” he continued. “I do some things different vocally on this one that I’ve not done before. It’s about each song having its place and having its meaning. It’s trying not to be overly redundant with songs. I think that’s why I’ve been blessed to have a long career and what I feel like this album’s going to do.”
In addition to his headlining shows and his Farm Tour, Bryan is set to continue his role as an American Idol judge (alongside incoming judge, fellow country artist Carrie Underwood), while his Crash My Playa destination concert in Mexico will celebrate its 10th year in 2025 with performances from Jason Aldean, Kane Brown and more.
Stream Mind Of A Country Boy below.