Kris Kristofferson Photo Courtesy of New West Records
June 22, 2007 — Kris Kristofferson will bring his guitar, some old and new songs and his unflinching honesty to his post of honor as the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's 2007 artist-in-residence for two memorable evenings in August.
Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004, Kris is also a three-time Grammy winner and Oscar-nominated songwriter. He follows Cowboy Jack Clement, Earl Scruggs, Tom T. Hall and Guy Clark as the Museum's fifth artist-in-residence. He will hold court in the Museum's Ford Theater on August 14 and 15; each show begins at 7 p.m.
"Few artists can legitimately wear the mantle of 'living legend,'" said museum director Kyle Young. "But Kris Kristofferson embodies the phrase. With a rough-hewn tenor, a philosopher's insight and a poet's turn of phrase, he has given voice to our country's mores and emotions, its triumphs and tragedies, for more than four decades. To hear him on record, or to hear his songs interpreted by others, is a good introduction, but hearing and seeing him live in an intimate environment is to understand his essence and feel his humanity. In our residency tradition, we are privileged to give him our stage as his home and are certain he will make all who attend feel as if they are sitting in his living room while he plays just for them."
Kris' beautifully crafted and literary songs, including "For the Good Times," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Sunday Morning Coming Down" have helped country artists speak to the times and win new fans among youth and adults alike. Last year, he released his first studio album in 11 years, This Old Road, a stripped-down meditation on love, gratitude, aging, war and his ever-present theme of freedom. "If I had to describe [the album] in one word, I'd say it's honest," Kris said. "It's all pretty close to the bone, about my own personal journey. It's about what sense I've made of my life up to now."
One of American music's most respected artists as well as an activist who speaks out on social justice and human rights issues, Kris continues to act, write songs, record, and make occasional tours. These two nights in August offer fans a rare opportunity to enjoy his gifts in an intimate setting.