Kris Kristofferson Never Thought He’d Live Past 30 After Joplin’s Death

NONE OF US DID –

Sept. 30, 2024 – During the 1960s and ‘70s, Kristofferson was a heavy drinker, during which time he was also dating fellow singer Janis Joplin, who was trying to kick her heroin addiction. Joplin died in 1970 at the age of 27 due to her addiction. Kristofferson spoke to People in 1998 about his drinking issues and what led him to eventually become sober. “It tore me up,” Kristofferson told the publication of Joplin’s death, but it didn’t convince him to quit drinking. “I was a functioning alcoholic.”

“For a couple of years, it was Jack Daniels, then it was tequila, then it was anything. When I was performing, I couldn’t imagine getting up and doing it without drinking.”

The actor explained that it was seeing his character in the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born die on-screen that finally encouraged him to get sober as he wanted to be able to be there for his loved ones.

“I had a half quart of Jose Cuervo in my icebox that they never let get empty. I remember feeling that that could very easily be my wife and kids crying over me. I quit drinking over that. I didn’t want to die before my daughter grew up,” Kristofferson explained.