From 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' and 'Help Me Make It Through the Night' to 'Feeling Mortal,' Variety picks 10 Kris Kristofferson immortal classics.

Kris Kristofferson, a singer-songwriter whose trove of country-pop hits such as “Me and Bobby McGee” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night” pushed him to the forefront of American popular composers and whose gritty-voiced,

Kristofferson died at his home on Maui, Hawaii on Saturday, family spokeswoman Ebie McFarland said in an email.

More than 50 years ago, Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar equally drawn to the words of William Blake and Hank Williams, helped usher in a new era of country songs, and country songwriters

Kris Kristofferson was a generational singer-songwriter whose craftsmanship made country music feel broader and deeper.

After years as a struggling songwriter, he found his voice with a direct, evocative style that launched his decades-long career as a musician, actor and activist.

Kris Kristofferson, a Rhodes scholar with a deft writing style and rough charisma who became a country music superstar and A-list Hollywood actor, has died.

Kris Kristofferson claims four top 40 albums on iTunes and several hit songs as fans show their love for the country music legend, who passed away a few days ago.

Kris Kristofferson, who died over the weekend at 88, was one of country music's greatest poets. His work elevated the genre and set a new standard for lyricism on Music Row. The big picture: Kristofferson's sprawling legacy includes well-known work as a singer and an actor.