“Rita Coolidge, Kris Kristofferson’s ex-wife, at 79 – see what she looks like today.”

The death of Kris Kristofferson has left a deep impact on countless fans around the globe. Among those deeply affected by his passing is his ex-wife, Rita Coolidge.

To learn more about what Rita has been up to lately, keep reading.

Rita Coolidge was a major figure in the music scene during the 1970s. Though she gained initial fame for her talent, her personal life soon became a focal point of media attention. Now in her late 70s, fans are amazed by how gracefully she has aged.

Coolidge began her rise to stardom in the 1960s after moving to Memphis, where she worked as a backup singer for Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett. Her incredible voice soon led her to collaborate with some of the most famous musicians of the time, including Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, and Stephen Stills.

When she later moved to Los Angeles, her career took off. She signed with A&M Records and released her debut album in 1971.

Though the album didn’t achieve commercial success, it established her as a respected artist. Her career took a significant leap when she married country music star Kris Kristofferson in 1973.

The duo became a well-known power couple in the music industry, collaborating on projects that led to two Grammy wins—one for “From the Bottle to the Bottom” in 1974 and another for “Lover Please” in 1976.

While their professional life flourished, their marriage faced numerous struggles. Coolidge has since spoken about the challenges they faced together, noting that while she didn’t want to portray Kristofferson negatively, their relationship had its difficult moments.

The couple’s story began when they met on a flight from Los Angeles to Memphis in 1971, with Kristofferson jokingly calling it “love at first flight.”

Kristofferson was originally headed to Nashville for a business meeting, but changed his plans to be with Coolidge. “By the end of that night, we’d already picked a name for our first child. I was sure we were meant to be together,” she recalled.

The couple’s personal connection was undeniable, and their professional collaborations were equally electric, mesmerizing audiences with their music.

As Kristofferson’s acting career took off, rumors swirled that Coolidge was using him for professional gain. She quickly dismissed these claims, pointing out, “When Kris and I were touring, he wasn’t the one with the hit records—I was. We were equals in both our work and our relationship.”

Coolidge openly shared how Kristofferson’s acting career impacted their partnership. With film offers rolling in, he spent less time in the recording studio, creating distance between them.

She also spoke about the emotional abuse she endured, saying he often belittled her talent. “Maybe he feels I mistreated him too, but I don’t think I did. It wasn’t constant, but it was enough to make me cry every day, and that’s no way to live.”

During their marriage, the couple welcomed a daughter named Casey. Tragically, they lost their second child, a heartache that added strain to their relationship.

By 1980, their marriage had unraveled, leading to their divorce. Coolidge chose to focus on her own career without seeking a financial settlement, wanting a clean break. “I didn’t think staying together was doing her any favors when it was clear her parents were not in sync,” she said. Despite the difficulties, they maintained a special bond even after the split.

In a 2016 interview, she reflected on their relationship, saying, “Kris and I share a connection. We laugh at things no one else understands. It’s a bond that goes beyond explanation.” When asked if they might perform together again, she replied with a smile, “Never say never.”

Kristofferson passed away on September 28, 2024, at age 88, surrounded by loved ones at his Maui home. His family issued a statement after his passing, saying he died peacefully.

“We’re grateful for the time we had with him. Thank you for loving him over the years, and whenever you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down on us,” the statement read.

As for Rita Coolidge, she has been doing well in recent years. Fans have marveled at how youthful and vibrant she looks. Her social media is filled with comments from admirers praising her appearance.

“You look amazing!” one fan wrote on a recent photo. Coolidge was still touring into her 60s, and another fan remarked, “You’re a true talent and such a beautiful woman.” A third person simply added, “Rita looks fantastic!”

My Greedy Father-in-Law Put a Hair in an Expensive Dish to Get It for Free—but Karma Got Him Immediately

Frank had always prided himself on his sneaky tactics to get freebies, but his luck ran out at a high-end restaurant. What began as a simple meal turned into a public spectacle when karma finally caught up with him, teaching him a lesson he never saw coming.

My father-in-law, Frank, has always been one of those people who never miss an opportunity to scam others for their own benefit.

I’ve witnessed him do that multiple times, but I never thought I’d see the day when his tricks would backfire so spectacularly, leaving him red-faced and scrambling for an exit.

A close-up shot of an older man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of an older man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

I’ve known Frank for about nine years now. I first met him when Ethan and I started dating, and Ethan introduced us over dinner at a restaurant. That was the first time I saw Frank trying to scam a restaurant.

The waiters served our food, and we began eating. I ordered pasta, Ethan got a sandwich, and Frank ordered a bowl of rice with sesame chicken.

A bowl of sesame chicken with rice | Source: Pexels

A bowl of sesame chicken with rice | Source: Pexels

“The chicken is so delicious!” Frank said, enjoying his meal.

“Yeah, even this sandwich tastes great,” Ethan added.

I thought Frank was just appreciating the restaurant’s food and service. But no. Frank had something else in mind, and what he did next caught me completely off guard.

“Let me show you how to get more of the same meal for free!” he said before calling a waiter over to our table.

An older man in a restaurant, smiling | Source: Midjourney

An older man in a restaurant, smiling | Source: Midjourney

“How can I help you, sir?” the waiter asked politely.

“This chicken tastes awful!” Frank said angrily, shaking his head in disapproval. “I can’t believe you’re serving such tasteless meals. The flavor is bland, and it’s not even properly cooked.”

“I’m so sorry, sir,” the waiter apologized. “I’ll get a replacement right away.”

“Hurry up!” Frank snapped. “I don’t have time to waste here. You better return with something that’s properly cooked!”

A waiter in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A waiter in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

The waiter looked panicked, apologizing as if he was at fault. He took away the half-eaten meal that Frank pretended to dislike, promising to return in five minutes.

Once the waiter left, Frank flashed us an evil smile like he had pulled off something impressive.

At that point, I wanted to ask Frank why he lied to get another meal for free. It wasn’t like he didn’t have money, or he was dying of hunger.

A woman looking straight ahead while having dinner with her family | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking straight ahead while having dinner with her family | Source: Midjourney

What he did was so cheap, but I believed I was not in a position to make him realize how wrong he was.

Later that night, I asked Ethan why his father did that.

“He’s always been like this,” Ethan sighed. “He thinks it’s funny and he never listens when we tell him it’s wrong. We’ve tried a million times, trust me.”

“But didn’t you see how hurt that waiter was? He really thought your dad didn’t like the food,” I protested. “This is so wrong, Ethan. So unfair.”

A woman talking to her boyfriend | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her boyfriend | Source: Midjourney

Ethan told me to let it go, and since we were just starting our relationship, I figured it wasn’t worth arguing over.

I could’ve pressed Ethan to understand how wrong Frank’s actions were, but I didn’t want something so minor to strain our relationship.

However, looking back, I wish I had told Ethan to put an end to his dad’s habit.

An older man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

An older man in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

The following year, Ethan and I tied the knot, and since then, I’ve been a witness to how cheap Frank is. I’ve watched in horror as he pulled stunts to get free food, free services in hotels, and free ANYTHING, ANYWHERE!

A man shaking hands with a woman at work | Source: Pexels

A man shaking hands with a woman at work | Source: Pexels

During the first year of our marriage, I tried explaining to Ethan how wrong his father’s behavior was, but it led to a big argument. Ethan kept saying he had no control over Frank, while I insisted he at least talk to his dad about it.

That night, I decided to stop meddling in Frank’s business because it was useless. Little did I know, karma was about to step in and teach Frank a lesson he’d never forget.

It all started when Frank called Ethan last weekend.

A man talking to his father on the phone | Source: Pexels

A man talking to his father on the phone | Source: Pexels

“There’s a new restaurant near my workplace,” he said. “I was wondering if you and Bella could join me. I’ve heard the food’s quite expensive so I just wanna see if it’s worth the money.”

“Sure, Dad,” Ethan replied. “We’ll be there.”

Two days later, we found ourselves in the restaurant with Frank. It was one of those fancy places where the plates are tiny, the prices are outrageous, and you need a reservation just to get in.

A fancy restaurant | Source: Pexels

A fancy restaurant | Source: Pexels

“This place looks nice,” I said as I skimmed through the menu. “But wow, it’s pricey.”

“Yeah, it’s super expensive,” Ethan said. “I think I’ll stick with a simple pasta.”

“Me too,” I agreed. “White sauce pasta for me. What about you, Frank?”

Frank was busy scanning the menu, his finger trailing down to the most expensive item.

“I’ll have the lobster,” he grinned.

“A lobster? Really Dad?” Ethan asked. “You’ve never ordered one before.”

A man sitting in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

“I know you’d say this,” Frank replied. “But it’s nice to try new things, isn’t it?”

“You’re right, Dad,” Ethan said before calling the waiter.

We placed our orders, but I could tell Frank was gearing up for another one of his stunts.

Soon, our food arrived, and we began eating. However, halfway through the dinner, I noticed Frank staring at his lobster. I couldn’t understand what was happening until he plucked a hair from my head and placed it on his dish.

Yep, Frank had the nerve to do that. I was too stunned to say a word.

An angry woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

An angry woman in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

Then he called the waiter over, feigning disgust.

“There’s a hair in my food,” Frank exclaimed, pushing his seat away from the table as if the hair would fly over to him. “This is unacceptable! I shouldn’t have to pay for this filth!”

What the heck? I thought. How can he even think of doing that?

I was mortified, while Ethan looked like he was about to explode with anger.

“I’m so sorry, sir,” the waiter said. “I’ll let the manager know.”

That’s when karma made its move.

A waiter in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A waiter in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

The manager approached our table a few seconds later.

“We’re so sorry for the inconvenience, sir,” he apologized.

I think he was about to offer a complimentary meal when another waiter came over to our table and whispered something in the manager’s ear.

That’s when the manager’s expression changed from apologetic to stone-cold serious. He took a deep breath and said, “Sir, I need to ask you to leave.”

“What? Why should I leave?” Frank protested. “I found hair in my food and you’re kicking me out? Is this how you treat your customers?”

An angry older man | Source: Midjourney

An angry older man | Source: Midjourney

“Sir, I’m asking you to leave because we believe you put the hair in the dish yourself,” the manager said calmly.

I can never forget the look on Frank’s face. Shocked, horrified, and caught off guard, he still tried to argue.

“How dare you accuse me of that!” he yelled at the manager. “I’ll have your job for this!”

By now, the whole restaurant was watching.

People in a restaurant | Source: Pexels

People in a restaurant | Source: Pexels

“Sir,” the manager began, “one of our staff members recognized you from another restaurant where you pulled the same stunt. We take food safety seriously here and won’t tolerate attempts to defame our business. Please leave, or we will involve the authorities.”

At that point, people around us started whispering among themselves, and some of them were even laughing. Meanwhile, Ethan and I looked at each other, wishing we hadn’t agreed to this dinner.

But it didn’t end there.

A man sitting with his wife in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

A man sitting with his wife in a restaurant | Source: Midjourney

Frank was at a loss for words and knew he couldn’t do anything to prove the manager wrong. So, he stood up and picked up his coat, preparing to leave.

“And one more thing, sir,” the manager said. “We’re sharing your photo and details with several other high-end restaurants in the area. You’ll no longer be welcome at any of them.”

Frank’s face turned pale as he realized what the manager just said.

An older man in a restaurant, looking shocked | Source: Midjourney

An older man in a restaurant, looking shocked | Source: Midjourney

What bothered him more was that the entire restaurant heard him and many of them were laughing at him. At that point, he understood he could no longer pull his cheap stunts to claim free food.

Karma had defeated him.

Frank stormed out of the restaurant without saying another word, while Ethan and I sat there in silence. Once the shock wore off, I couldn’t help but laugh at what just happened.

A woman laughing | Source: Midjourney

A woman laughing | Source: Midjourney

“I never thought I’d see the day!” I said, still laughing. “Frank finally got a taste of his own medicine, and it wasn’t free.”

Ethan chuckled, shaking his head. “Maybe he’ll finally realize that cheating his way through life always has a cost.”

That night, I finally understood how karma works. I couldn’t help but think that sometimes, karma is just waiting for the perfect moment to strike. And that moment might be right when you’re about to dig into an overpriced lobster.

Do you agree?

A lobster served in a dish | Source: Pexels

A lobster served in a dish | Source: Pexels

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: My wedding day took a bizarre turn when our videographer pulled me aside with shocking footage. What I saw next would test my new marriage, expose a family’s dark secrets, and leave me questioning everything I thought I knew about love and trust.

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher

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