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Kris Kristofferson: See His 11 Billboard No. 1s

We look at nearly a dozen No. 1 hits the late Kris Kristofferson earned during his career, as a songwriter and/or artist.

In the Army, Kristofferson rose to the rank of captain, but when he was commissioned to teach English at West Point, he abandoned that opportunity in order to head to Nashville to pursue songwriting. In 1970, he issued his eponymous first album, Kristofferson, which included his own versions of the hits “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” all of which he originally penned. This soul-baring petition for grace and redemption centers on poetic, hymn-like lines such as “Now that I know that I’ve needed you/ So Help me Jesus, my soul’s in Your hand.” The song featured Rita Coolidge (whom Kristofferson was wed to from 1973 to 1980) and Larry Gatlin on background vocals.

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