Kris Kristofferson

These country stars love their country!

For some country stars, living with chronic illness is simply a fact of life.

Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson were some of the best-known outlaws in country music history, so why were they drinking 7-Up backstage?

They know the heartbreak they sing about.

2024 has brought the deaths of several artists and beloved members of the country music genre.

It's been two months since Kristofferson died, and his friends and family celebrated his memory during their first Thanksgiving without him.

Including what it took to get Jelly Roll onboard for Brooks & Dunn's "Believe."

Her performance was more than appreciated by the legend's widow, Lisa.

'And then I am the only one left. And that's just not funny,' Nelson reflects.

"This one hurt. This is a tough one. This is a legend that was lost," she says.

Kristofferson was a legendary songwriting and screen talent, and he also just might be one of country music's most interesting people ever.

Including a country hitmaker, an acting legend and a rocker who died of an overdose.