The passing of Kris Kristofferson has been a heartbreaking incident for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. One of the people affected by this news is Rita Coolidge, the actor’s ex-wife.
Keep reading to know more about what she has been up to recently.
Rita Coolidge was a massive music icon in the 1970s. Later on, she was mostly in the news due to her personal life. Now, the singer is in her late 70s and fans are impressed with how well she has held up.
She began her journey to stardom in the 1960s when she moved to Memphis and started working as a backup vocalist for Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Her exceptional voice quickly helped her to perform with some of the biggest names in the industry at the time, including Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, and Stephen Stills.
After she relocated to Los Angeles, she became incredibly sought after. She entered into a contract with A&M Records and released a self-titled debut album in 1971.
While her album was not a commercial success, it did garner some respect for her in the industry. Her career was given another major boost after she married country singer Kris Kristofferson in 1973.
The pair became an incredibly noticeable couple in the music world and took their joint talent to both the studio and the stage. Their collaboration ended up winning them two Grammys for “From the Bottle to the Bottom” in 1974 and “Lover Please” in 1976.
While their professional collaboration was fruitful, the couple faced many challenges in their personal lives. Coolidge later reflected about how she never wanted to paint the country singer in a negative light but the circumstances the two of them faced in their marriage were intense.
The couple first met on a plane ride from Los Angeles to Memphis in 1971, Kristofferson humorously described the meeting as “love at first flight”
Kristofferson was headed to Nashville for a business engagement but abandoned his own plans to go off with Coolidge. “Before we went to sleep that night we’d picked out a name for our first child. There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to be together,” she recalled.
Apart from their explosive personal chemistry, the couple made magic professionally, and Coolidge and Kristofferson captivated audiences with their music.
When Kristofferson’s acting career began to take off, people accused Coolidge of hitching herself to him to get a chance at professional success. She firmly denied these allegations, reminding people that, “When Kris and I were doing concerts, he didn’t have hit records. I did. We were equal in our jobs and in our relationship.”
Coolidge spoke candidly about the effect Kristofferson’s acting career had on the. She said he kept receiving movie offers, which kept him away from the recording studio.
She also revealed that Kristofferson was emotionally abusive and belittled her talent. She said, “He might feel that I was abusive to him. I don’t think I was. It was not all the time. It was just enough that I cried every day, and that’s not a good way to live.”
During their time together, the couple welcomed a daughter together who they named Casey. Later, they lose their second child which put a lot of strain on their relationship.
By 1980, their marriage had reached its breaking point, which led to their divorce. Coolidge decided to focus on her own career and not ask for a settlement so she could move on more easily.
“I didn’t feel I was doing her any favors by going the distance when clearly her parents were not in harmony,” Coolidge said of it. Despite the misgivings, the couple shared a special relationship even after their divorce.
Reflecting on their connection in 2016, she said, “Kris and I have a connection and we laugh at stuff that nobody else gets. We just have a bond that is beyond any kind of understanding.” When asked if they would ever perform together again, she smiled and replied, “Never say never.”
Kristofferson passed away on September 28, 2024, at the age of 88. He was surrounded by family at his home in Maui at the time of his death. His family released a statement after his death, revealing that he had passed away peacefully.
“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,” the statement said.
As for Rita Coolidge, she has also been doing well. In recent years, fans have marveled at how well she has maintained herself. Her social media is filled with comments from fans, who often comment on how great she looks.
“You look great!” one fan commented on her picture media. The singer was also touring well into her 60s. “You are such a talent and a beautiful lady,” another wrote. A third chimed in saying, “Rita looks great!”
