September 29, 2024 (Nashville, Tenn.) —The world lost a poet with the passing of Kris Kristofferson, one of the founding members of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). He influenced generations of songwriters like no other.
NSAI President Lee Thomas Miller said, “Songwriters have lost an icon and a friend. As one of the founding fathers of Music Row, Kris Kristofferson set the bar for greatness in the art of writing songs. He was a true star. The air changed when he walked in the room. Country music, Nashville and NSAI would not be who we are today without the incredible Kris Kristofferson.”
Kristofferson was one of NSAI’s 42 founding members and his name gave gravity and credibility to the organization whose highest honor, the “Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award” bears his name. He put his original band back together to honor NSAI’s acquisition of The Bluebird Cafe and performed there when founder Amy Kurland handed operations of the iconic venue over to NSAI.
Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson perform at The Bluebird Cafe to commemorate NSAI and Kristofferson presenting Willie Nelson with the first-ever NSAI “Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2013.
NSAI Board President Lee Thomas Miller and Kris Kristofferson at the first presentation of the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award to Willie Nelson at The Bluebird Cafe in 2013.
