Kris Kristofferson was fortunate to be surrounded by love and talent throughout his life, thanks to his eight children: Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Kelly Marie, and Blake.
The legendary musician and songwriter, who passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 28 at the age of 88, shared Tracy and Kris Jr. with his high school sweetheart, Frances Beer.
After their marriage ended, he found love again with singer Rita Coolidge, with whom he had a daughter Casey during their seven-year marriage. In 1983, he married celebrity hairstylist Lisa Meyers, and together they welcomed Kelly Marie, Jesse, Jody, Johnny, and Blake during their 41 years of marriage.
A Beautiful Connection Resulting in Daughter Casey
In 2021, Kris announced his retirement from country music, revealing that he had been struggling with memory loss. His son Johnny, who holds a law degree from Pepperdine University, took over managing the family’s business alongside Morris Higham Management.
“It’s been incredible to explore my dad’s extensive catalog and history with this experienced team,” Johnny said in a press release shared with PEOPLE. He expressed excitement about bringing his father’s timeless songwriting to both longtime and new fans alike.
Kris passed away at his home in Maui on Sept. 28, surrounded by loved ones. His family shared the news in a statement, expressing their deep gratitude for the time they had with him and thanking his fans for their unwavering support.
Here is a closer look at Kris Kristofferson’s eight children: Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Kelly Marie, and Blake.
Tracy Kristofferson, 62
Born on Jan. 9, 1962, Tracy is the eldest of Kris’ children, born from his first marriage to Frances Beer. While attending Stanford University, Tracy was involved in a severe motorcycle accident with Olympic gold medalist Eric Heiden, resulting in a serious head injury. Kris immediately canceled his concert in Sweden to rush to her side, telling The New York Times, “My daughters mean everything to me.”
After making a full recovery, Tracy graduated from college and ventured into Hollywood. She debuted in the 1985 film Trouble in Mind and later appeared in Night of the Cyclone (1990) and A Place to Grow (1995).
She also worked as an associate producer for Pharaoh’s Army that same year. Tracy has one child from her marriage to actor Richard Tyson, from whom she divorced in 2017.
Kris Kristofferson Jr., 56
Kris Jr. was born on Jan. 20, 1968, just a year before his parents’ split. Despite sharing his father’s iconic name, Kris Jr. has led a private life away from the spotlight.
Casey Kristofferson, 50
Casey, born on March 21, 1974, is Kris’ daughter with singer Rita Coolidge. Coolidge recalled how she and Kris met on a flight in 1971 and immediately felt a connection, leading them to collaborate on various projects before their divorce in 1980.
Despite growing up in the public eye, Casey initially avoided the spotlight, focusing on ballet and running her own dance school in North Carolina. In 2019, she formed the Casey Kristofferson Band, releasing their debut album Dirty Feet. She has three daughters from a previous marriage.
Jesse Kristofferson, 40
Jesse, born on Oct. 7, 1983, is Kris’ first child with Lisa Meyers. He briefly pursued acting, appearing in films like Planet of the Apes (2001) and the TV series Gigantic (2010). However, he stepped away from Hollywood in 2013 and now lives out of the limelight.
Jody Kristofferson, 39
Jody, born on May 21, 1985, chose a different path from his siblings. He pursued professional wrestling, competing in WWE under the name Jody Reese. Although he has since retired from the sport, he displayed his father’s stage presence in the ring.
Johnny Kristofferson
Johnny, Kris and Lisa’s third son, was born in 1988. He earned a law degree from Pepperdine University, following in his mother’s footsteps, and now manages the family business after Kris’ retirement.
Kelly Marie Kristofferson, 33
Born on Nov. 1, 1990, Kelly Marie has made a name for herself as both an actress and musician. She has appeared in films like Traded (2016) and the short film Pimp My Life (2017). In 2013, she joined her father on stage at the Magnolia Fest in Florida for a duet of “The Wonder.” She married painter Aydin Hanami in 2018.
Blake Kristofferson, 30
Blake, born on July 27, 1994, is Kris’ youngest child. He followed his siblings to Pepperdine University and, like some of his family members, lives a relatively private life outside the public eye.
