Kris Kristofferson is a legend in music and movies—he wrote Me and Bobby McGee, among other unforgettable hits—so it’s insane to find out that his family once disowned him for the life he chose. A recent report in Whiskey Riff claims that Kris’s family told him, “You’re a disgrace to us,” because Kris decided to pursue a country music career.
The real truth is that Kris has accomplished a lot in his life. Before he hit it big in Nashville and Hollywood, Kris was a “Rhodes Scholar, three-sport letterman in college, Golden Gloves boxer, award-winning essayist, forest fighter, Army Ranger,” and a “helicopter pilot” in the U.S. military.
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According to Kris, his parents disowned him when he walked away from a military career. Kris’s father, Lars Henry Kristofferson, had a distinguished military career as an Air Force pilot. By the time he retired, Lars was a major general after serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict.
Allegedly, Kris only entered the military after his impressive high school and college years because his dad told him to. His parents were furious when Kris decided to make a drastic life change.
Kris Excelled at Everything He Did
Kris was born in Brownsville, Texas, in 1936. His teenage life was exciting because his family moved to California. There, young Kris began writing articles and stories that received acclaim and publication.
After high school, Kris enrolled in Pomona College. He was a star athlete in football, track, and rugby. Kris graduated from Pomona with a summa cum laude.
Then, Kris reached higher and tried for a Rhodes Scholarship. He achieved that goal and attended the prestigious University of Oxford. While he was in England, Kris started playing rugby again and became a star in the boxing ring.
Kris graduated from Oxford in 1960 with a Philosophy of English Literature degree. His parents had to have been happy with that, but Lars still wanted Kris to enter the military. His parents also didn’t know that Kris had begun to write songs in his spare time.
The Army wasn’t Kris’s true passion, but as Whiskey Riff wrote, “Kris crushed in the service.” He climbed to the rank of Captain and was a Ranger and a daring helicopter pilot.
Shockingly, Kris even got the opportunity to begin teaching at the iconic West Point School for military officers. His parents thought they knew what Kris should be doing, but fate had other plans for him.
Before returning to the States and teaching at West Point, Kris had to finish a military stint in West Germany. While in Europe, he started a band and played original songs he’d written. When Kris returned to America, he made a crazy decision.
Not only did Kris decline the teaching job at West Point, he ended his military career forever. Kris moved to Nashville to pursue country music, and his parents’ reaction was noteworthy for all the wrong reasons.
Kris Eventually Reconciled with His Mother
Whiskey Riff reported that Kris’s mom and dad would not speak to him “for decades.” If you think that Lars was the hardest one on him, you’ll be shocked to hear this.
According to Kris’s interview with Rolling Stone, his mom, Mary Ann, told him that he was “an embarrassment to the family.” This sounds crazy now, but Mary Ann allegedly told Kris that there were only “moments of pride” for her and Lars, like when Kris earned his Rhodes scholarship.
Even more heartless, Kris alleged that his mom told him his best accomplishments would “never measure up to the tremendous disappointment you’ve always been.” Unbelievable, right?
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Kris eventually became a huge star in music and film, but he had lean years in Nashville, just like any country music superstar, including Garth Brooks in the 1980s. In 1999, Kris was interviewed by Salon, and he gave more shocking details about being “disowned” by his parents. Mary Ann even advised Kris not to “visit any of our relatives.” That’s when she dropped the bombshell that he was “a disgrace” to her and Lars.
Whiskey Riff confirmed that Kris’ mom didn’t speak to him “for over 20 years.” According to his Wikipedia page, sources were “unclear” if Kris ever reconciled with his dad before Lars passed away.
However, Mary Ann eventually came around. Kris told Salon, “Before she died, she was coming backstage and hugging Johnny Cash and things like that.” Kris seemed to have made peace with his mother’s heartlessness when he admitted, “She definitely got used to the fact that I was who I was.”
