“There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson,” Nelson said ... “Shaking his hand when I was still in the Army ...

He was well respected within the industry, with Nelson himself declaring at an event in 2009: “There’s no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson ... when I was still in the Army ...

Kris Kristofferson raised eight kids — Tracy, Kris Jr., Casey, Jesse, Jody, Johnny, Kelly Marie and Blake — before his death on Sept. 28 Emily Weaver is a contributing writer at PEOPLE.

"There's no better songwriter alive than Kris Kristofferson," Nelson said during ... “Shaking his hand when I was still in the Army backstage at the Grand Ole Opry was the moment I’d decided ...

Kris Kristofferson was a retired American singer ... During these years, Kris still managed to form a band and play music. After his tour ended, he was given the opportunity to teach English ...