Kris Kristofferson's 8 Children: All About the Late Country Singer's Sons and Daughters

Mar. 15, 2025

In 2021, Kris, whosuffered from memory loss, announced his retirement from country music. It was revealed that his son Johnny, who holds a law degree from Pepperdine University, wouldtake over the family’s businessin partnership with Morris Higham Management.

Kris Kristofferson (center) with his son and daughter.Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage

Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage

His family also shared a statement, saying, “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all."

Here’s everything to know about Kris Kristofferson’s eight children: Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Kelly Marie and Blake.

Tracy Kristofferson, 63

Tracy Kristofferson and Kris Kristofferson in March 2015.Leon Bennett/WireImage

Leon Bennett/WireImage

Tracy was born on Jan. 9, 1962. She is the oldest of the Kristofferson children and Kris’ first child from his marriage to high school sweetheart Frances Beer.

Tracy made a full recovery, graduated from college, and went on to have a career in Hollywood. She made her acting debut in 1985’sTrouble in Mind, which led her to star in 1990’sNight of the CycloneandA Place to Growin 1995. That same year she was credited as associate producer for the filmPharaoh’s Army.

She shares one child with actor Richard Tyson, whom she divorced in 2017.

Kris Kristofferson Jr., 57

Kris Kristofferson and Kris Kristofferson Jr. 1990.Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty

Kris and Frances' second child, a son named Kris Jr., was born on Jan. 20, 1968 — a year before the pair split. Despite inheriting one of the most famous monikers in country music, Kris Jr. has lived a relatively private life.

Casey Kristofferson, 50

Casey Kristofferson in 2019.Rick Kern/WireImage

Rick Kern/WireImage

“I like to say that it was ‘love at first flight,’ ” Coolidge recalled to PEOPLE. “Before we went to sleep that night we’d picked out a name for our first child. There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to be together.”

Despite having grown up on the road with her famous parents, Casey was in no rush to see her own name on the marquee. She performed with the Asheville Ballet before opening her own dance school at Black Mountain Center for the Arts in North Carolina.

“When the kids were little and I was dancing I didn’t have a lot of time to do music,” she toldBlack Mountain Newsin 2019. “One of my daughters has now graduated from college and my other two are 14 and 11, so I have a little more wiggle room.”

Casey shares three daughters with her ex-husband.

Jesse Kristofferson, 41

Jesse Kristofferson and Kris Kristofferson.Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Jody Kristofferson, 39

Jody was born on May 21, 1985. While he didn’t catch the acting or singing bug like some of his siblings, he did inherit his father’s natural stage presence. Jody was a professional wrestler for the WWE.

He fought in the WWE under the ring name Jody Reese and has since retired from the sport.

Johnny Kristofferson

Kris and Lisa welcomed their third son, Johnny, in 1988. Johnny earned a law degree from Pepperdine University, which also happens to be his mother’s alma mater. He took over the family business following Kris’ retirement from music in 2021.

Kelly Marie Kristofferson, 34

Kelly Kristofferson in 2016.Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns

Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns

Born on Nov. 1, 1990, Kelly Marie is Kris and Lisa’s only daughter. She has carved a name out for herself as both an actress and musician. She’s appeared in 2016’sTradedand the 2017 shortPimp My Life. Kelly Marie is also set to produce and star in the forthcoming crime dramaLittle Lamb.

In 2013, she showed off her singing chops whilesinging alongside Krisat the Magnolia Fest in Florida. The pair performed a father-daughter rendition of his song “The Wonder.”

She is married to painter Aydin Hanami, whom she wed in 2018.

Blake Kristofferson, 30

Kris Kristofferson and Blake Kristofferson in 1999.Ron Galella, Ltd./Getty

source: people.com