Kris Kristofferson's health issues explored as country music legend dies at 88

Country music legend Kris Kristofferson passed away at the age of 88 on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The news was confirmed by his family in an Instagram post stating he died peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii, adding:

"We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all."

No official cause of death has been made public. However, the singer was once in the news for his health. In around 2006, he suffered from memory loss, which was initially misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's. Years later the cause behind his deteriorating health was found to be Lyme disease.

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"It’s like Lazarus coming out of the grave and being born again"—Kris Kristofferson's friend, Chris Gantry, about the singer's improving health

Per a January 2024 article by Taste of Country, Kris Kristofferson has been suffering from memory loss since about 2006. At the time, his medical team told him that it was either Alzheimer's or dementia, brought on blows to the head. They believed the singer was hit in the head one too many times playing football and boxing when he was younger.

In a Rolling Stones interview with his wife Lisa Kristofferson in 2016, it was revealed that some days the country legend's memory issues got so bad that he could not remember what he had been doing from one moment to the next.

However, a doctor in 2016 diagnosed him with Lyme disease, a tick-borne infection that can cause memory loss and neurological problems. Following a positive blood test, Kris began the correct treatment, kicking off his old medication.

Lisa Kristofferson told the publication that "he was taking all these medications for things he doesn’t have, and they all have side effects." She explained in a 2016 interview with LymeDisease.org that her husband suffered from sleep apnea, painful knees, arrhythmias, and was anemic.

Kris Kristofferson's health improved drastically, and despite memory lapses, Lisa told Rolling Stones, "Some days he’s perfectly normal and it’s easy to forget that he is even battling anything."

Talking about Kristofferson's improving health, his friend Chris Gantry, in a statement made to Closer Weekly in August 2016, remarked:

"It’s like Lazarus coming out of the grave and being born again."

In the interview with LymeDisease.org, his wife Lisa Kristofferson noted that Kris Kristofferson was also misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia. Talking about the time, she stated:

"He had massive, painful spasms all over his back and legs— it was so horrible— his nerve endings were causing golf ball-sized, painful contractions that we battled with acupuncture, heat and massage, then finally a spinal cortisone shot by a rheumatologist, and a low dose anti-depressant."

She later added that he likely caught Lyme's disease from a tick while shooting in the forest for his 2006 film Disappearances.

Despite his memory issues, the country singer continued performing until 2021, when he announced his retirement. While talking to Variety in January 2021 about Kris Kristofferson's retirement, his manager Tamara Saviano told the publication that it wasn't due to any health reasons, stating:

"He’s really healthy and in good shape."

However, a September 2023 article by Radar Online, citing the singer's friends, suggested that he was "facing his final days." Per the report, he put his 550-acre property in California on the market, adding that he was "turning his holdings into cash" to make things easier for his family when he passes away. The report was never confirmed.

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More about Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson initially served in the military before focusing on his music career, finding success as a songwriter. He gained recognition as a singer after dropping his second studio album, The Silver Tongued Devil and I. His hits include Why Me, How Do You Feel About Foolin' Around, and Rain.

Kristofferson also boasted a successful Hollywood career, appearing in films like A Star is Born (1976), Cisco Pike (1972), and Blade Trilogy (1998-2004). The former movie earned him a Golden Globe for Best Actor.

Throughout his career, the country legend has amassed several awards, including four Grammys. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. He continued working till January 2021, when he announced his retirement.

Kris Kristofferson is survived by his wife, Lisa, eight children, Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, John, Kelly, and Blake, and seven grandchildren.