A Friend Remembers the Original Big Country Outlaw, Kris Kristofferson

A special tribute from a friend. Pop culture historian Dr. Mike Lano has hosted sports and film/tv/arts syndicated radio shows since 1974 and still writes for a number of newspapers and magazines. Holler at him at [email protected]. 

Singer-songwriter, music legend and accomplished actor Kris Kristofferson recently passed away. It was a rough blow, as he was a great friend. I was privileged to have spent time with him, along with his wife Lisa and their children — including his son Jody, who decided to become a professional wrestler. Jody traveled the world, entertaining people in his own unique way, and even started out by working under the name of “Big Country,” which was one of Kris’ early nicknames, as well.

Born June 22nd, 1936 in Brownsville, Texas, Kris was one of the more down-to-earth, grounded major celebrities I met while growing up in San Mateo, California. He had served this country prior to switching to becoming an entertainer, and he had no airs about him; he was just kind to others at all times.

He penned many classic songs like “Me and Bobbie McGee” (which earned awards for Kris’ friend, Janis Joplin), “For the Good Times,” and “Help Me Make It Through the Night ” — they and many others were all hits for him, as well for other artists.

Pictured (LtoR): Kris Kristofferson, wrestling journalist and Jody Kristofferson. Credit: Mike Lano

Kris, along with his ’80s and ’90s Highwaymen supergroup members Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings, was a true pioneer of outlaw county. All four starred in their own movie, 1986’s Stagecoach, and broke global box office records touring and putting out a number of classic albums.

He landed in every music hall of fame, starting with Songwriters, and won 3 Grammy awards, which landed him a Lifetime Achievement Award. He might be best known for starring with Barbra Streisand in the film A Star Is Born, but he also did magnificent work in Martin Scorsese’s Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, the Blade saga, and over 118 film and television credits including a beloved holiday film with his old pal, Willie Nelson.

Kris and Lisa were incredibly supportive of Jody’s unusual career choice of joining my field of sports-entertainment wrestling. They’d often drive up from their Santa Barbara, California home, more than five hours each way, to watch Jody have his debut matches in front of crowds in Northern California. They even flew in from their main home in Maui, Hawaii to support his bigger, more important matches.

Kris and the rest of the family had a great time any time they attended his matches, with Kris telling me, “We’re so proud of what Jody is able to now do in the ring as he’s really a professional at his craft.” Jody broke in during APW wrestling’s Bootcamp School and promotion, near my last NorCal home in Alameda By The Sea, CA and his career was covered on local TV, newspapers, and in genre wrestling magazines I’ve written and shot for for many decades. His last in-ring character was “War Pig” where he’d wear a set of fake hog teeth to the ring, but he was all offensive business once the bell sounded for the match to start. Jody worked for many prestigious companies, starting with WWE and their farm systems FCW and NXT, which are similar to those in professional baseball when they eventually get recruited to the main roster.

Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images

Kris reminds me of 90210 star Luke Perry, as Luke also often flew his young son Jack up to see pro wrestling in Northern California. Jack eventually trained to become a pro wrestling superstar himself, known as both Jungleboy and by his own name, Jack Perry in All Elite Wrestling (a major competitor to WWE, owned by the NFL team owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars). Jack is currently playing a heel, aka a maniacal bad guy.

Kris was also a major philanthropist; he and Lisa gave back to many charities each year, such as for Farm-Aid, and were always helping others when Kris wasn’t on the road. The tabloids had a field day with him a few years back, spreading ongoing false rumors that the father of five was getting forgetful, “ready to quit music,” etc. None of it true.  I was told back then by his wife, Lisa, that specialists had discovered he’d simply gotten Lyme Disease from a tick bite. He was always an outdoors-person; loved camping, hiking, and fishing. And once he was cured, his memory and everything else quickly returned to normal.