“I was working the Gulf of Mexico on oil rigs, flying helicopters. I'd lost my family to my years of failing as a songwriter. All I had were bills, child support, and grief. And I was about to get fired for not letting 24 hours go between the throttle and the bottle. It looked like I'd trashed my act. But there was something liberating about it.”

American musician, songwriter, and actor

Kris Kristofferson was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was a leading figure in the outlaw country movement of the 1970s, which pushed country music away from the polished Nashville sound and toward a rougher, more personal style. He is best known for songs such as "For the Good Times," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," and "Me and Bobby McGee." Many of these songs were also recorded by other artists and became major hits, which helped make his writing widely known beyond his own performances.