Had no idea Kris Kristofferson was so liberal

[Quixote1818]

Older video but still interesting:

This clip of the Highwaymen is interesting as well, showing Kristofferson, Willy Nelson and Johnny Cash ripping on Republican politics back in the early 90s.

Edited: Guess Waylen Jennings was a moderate:

https://www.tiktok.com/@cuntrytrash/video/7186664888390110510?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

[gay texan]

1. Ohhhhh yeah

Almost all of the old Lukenbach crowd is hard-core liberal

[brush]

2. Wow. I had no idea. He calls himself left of liberal.

Even bigger fan now. Watch the video pls. What a life he's lead.

[John1956PA]

3. Mr. Kristofferson has had impressive accomplishments.

His athleticism in high school and college gained him national recognition. He completed his full term as a Rhodes Scholar with high achievement. He joined the Army, underwent Ranger training, and rose to the level of helicopter pilot. He was offered a commission and a position at West Point as an instructor of English courses. He turned it down and separated from the service. His parents were dismayed with his decision, and they became estranged from him. He relocated to the southern states and took jobs from a janitor at the Grand Ole Opry to a helicopter pilot ferrying workers to and from offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. He said he wrote "Me and Bobby McGee" while sitting on an oil tank on a drilling rig. His songwriting brought him accolades in 1970 when he won for best composer for the two major county music academies - for two different songs sung by two different artists. He was nominated for the best actor Oscar in 1976 for his performance in "A Star is Born." He overcame alcohol addiction and presents himself as an empathetic person. Thanks for sharing the video.

[Wounded Bear]

4. K & R...nt

[senseandsensibility]

5. My memory is Waylon was liberal too

Most of the original country artists were. Love KK!

[brush]

9. Wonder if that has something to do with blues music and country music...

are sympatico...have shared qualities and originate from the soul and roots of people?

[senseandsensibility]

10. I think you're on to something

I'm also a fan of blues and know how it influenced early country music. I wish today's country artists had the real world experience of the early artists like Cash and Willy.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

6. Played just the happiest corrupt-racist-killer sheriff you ever saw in "Lone Star".

[Tommy Carcetti]

7. I generally am not a fan of country music. However...

...The Highwaymen are terrific and all four members are unabashed musical legends.

I'll add that I also like bluegrass and folk country. And Dolly Parton as well.

But modern Nashville country music? Bleh.

[Aristus]

8. Yeah, a heart-warmingly progressive guy.

Back when Sinead O'Connor was receiving near-universal criticism because she brought attention to the Catholic Church's complicity in the rape and molestation of minors by their corps of priests, Kris Kristofferson was one of the few, at the time, to support her. He also comforted her when she was booed off the stage a few weeks after ripping up the photo of the Pope live on SNL.

He's a great reminder of a time before country music became fascism with cowboy boots instead of jackboots.

[Clash City Rocker]

11. I think Waylon would have been fine with it

He described himself as neither a Republican or a Democrat. His songs took some fairly liberal positions, for example, he was one of the first country artists to come out against the war in Vietnam. He spent a good deal of time around liberals and seemed to get along with them. He certainly wouldn’t approve of today’s Republican Party.

[Quixote1818]

12. Thanks for this. I think I was mixing him up with Hank Williams

Sounds like he was pretty moderate:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-10-22-ca-224-story.html