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Following the passing of Kris Kristofferson at age 88, Barbra Streisand shared a heartfelt tribute to her former A Star Is Born co-star — remembering not just the movie icon, but the man behind it.
Streisand reflected on first seeing Kristofferson perform live at the Troubadour in Los Angeles while she was developing the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born.
"I knew he was something special," she wrote.
A Legendary On-Screen Pairing
In the 1976 film, Streisand played Esther Hoffman, the rising singer whose romance with fading rock star John Norman Howard — portrayed by Kristofferson — became the emotional core of the story.
Their chemistry felt raw and authentic, fueled by Kristofferson's rugged charisma and Streisand's emotional intensity.
Together they performed the Oscar-winning love theme Evergreen, which became one of Streisand's signature songs. The film itself became a cultural landmark of the 1970s.
A Reunion Years Later
More than four decades after the film's release, Streisand invited Kristofferson to join her on stage at her 2019 Hyde Park concert in London. The two reunited for a duet of "Lost Inside of You," their romantic ballad from the film.
Streisand later recalled that Kristofferson was "charming as ever," and that the audience showered him with applause — a moment of recognition for a man who had lived many lives: Rhodes Scholar, Army captain, songwriter, outlaw poet, and movie star.
"It was a joy seeing him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved," she said.
A Final Farewell
Streisand extended her condolences to Kristofferson's wife of more than 40 years, Lisa Meyers, acknowledging the quiet support that shaped his later years.
In remembering him, Streisand highlighted what so many others have echoed: Kris Kristofferson was not only immensely talented, but deeply human.
On screen, he embodied flawed romance and poetic tragedy.
Off screen, he was — as Streisand put it — something special.
And to those who shared a stage or spotlight with him, he remained, always, "charming as ever."