Barbra Streisand has paid touching tribute to her “A Star Is Born” co-star Kris Kristofferson following his death at age 88.
Streisand, 82, rushed to social media Sunday to share an image of the pair’s 1976 album cover from the Oscar-winning film, as well as a more recent photo of the duo together onstage.
“The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A. I knew he was something special,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Barefoot and strumming his guitar, he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing, which eventually became ‘A Star Is Born.’”
“In the movie, Kris and I sang the song I’d written for the film’s main love theme, ‘Evergreen,’” she continued.
“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.”
Streisand offered her condolences to the late performer’s family, writing, “My thoughts go to Kris’ wife, Lisa who I know supported him in every way possible.”
Kristofferson starred as troubled rocker John Norman Howard in the 1976 remake opposite Streisand.
The role made him a Golden Globe winner in 1977, and the movie picked up three other Golden Globes awards that year.
What’s more, the pair’s version of the film — which has been remade four times — featured the track “Love Theme From A Star is Born,” which was written by Streisand.
The song earned Streisand a Grammy Award in 1978, as well as an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The film was most recently remade in 2018, and starred Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in leading roles.
In addition to Kristofferson’s work on the film, he was also known for his chart-topping 1972 song “Why Me,” and “Me & Bobby McGee,” a hit recorded by Janis Joplin shortly before her 1970 death.
He also played vampire hunter Abraham Whistler in the 1998 horror film “Blade” and the love interest of Ellen Burstyn’s character in the 1974 drama “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” directed by Martin Scorsese.
The beloved performer died Saturday and was surrounded by his family, though no cause of death was given.
His death came three years after he announced his retirement in a statement issued by his management, revealing that he had slowly stepped back from the spotlight.
