Willie Nelson Speaks Out on Kris Kristofferson’s Death: ‘Sad Time’

Nelson and Kristofferson were members of the outlaw supergroup The Highwaymen.

Willie Nelson he remembers his fellow robber Kris Kristofferson.

Nelson, who along with Kristofferson was a member of the outlaw country group The Highwaymen, reflected on the country icon’s death in an interview with “The Highwaymen” Associated Press published on Friday.

Kristofferson died on September 28 at his home in Maui, Hawaii, Kristofferson’s rep confirmed to USA TODAY at the time. The cause of the 88-year-old’s death was not announced.

“Kris was a great friend of mine,” Nelson, 91, said. “And you know, we just had a great time together and made a lot of music together – music videos, movies. I didn’t want to lose him. It was a sad time.”

Nelson and Kristofferson formed The Highwaymen with fellow country stars Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings in 1985. The supergroup’s debut album “Highwayman” topped the charts Billboard’s most popular country albums chart, and the title track became a number 1 hit.

The band also brought country chemistry to cinema by appearing in a Western television film “Stagecoach” in 1986

After releasing their second album “Highwayman 2” in 1990, The Highwaymen released their final album “The Road Goes on Forever” in 1995.

“He was a great songwriter,” Nelson told the AP of Kristofferson. “He left a lot of fantastic songs for us to sing as long as we are here.”

After Kristofferson’s death, Nelson became the last surviving member of The Highwaymen. Jennings died of diabetes complications in February 2002. A year and a half later, Cash also died of diabetes complications in September 2003.

Contributor: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY