Josh Turner Honors Kris Kristofferson With Heartfelt Cover of “A Moment of Forever”

Josh Turner was preparing to take the stage on September 29, 2024, when he received the news that Kris Kristofferson had died. With little time to process the loss, Turner chose to honor the country music legend in the most fitting way he could: by singing one of Kristofferson’s songs.

Kristofferson died peacefully at his home on September 28 at the age of 88. His family confirmed the news in a statement shared through his social media accounts the following day.

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news our husband/father/grandfather, Kris Kristofferson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 28 at home. We’re all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him all these many years, and when you see a rainbow, know he’s smiling down at us all.”

Kristofferson is survived by his wife of 41 years, Lisa Meyers, his eight children, and his grandchildren. His death also brought an outpouring of memories from friends and fellow artists across the country music community, including Turner, who had crossed paths with Kristofferson many times throughout his own career.

Josh Turner Pays Tribute From the Stage

Turner learned of Kristofferson’s death only moments before his concert on Sunday evening, September 29. The news hit him hard, particularly because of the respect and admiration he had for the legendary songwriter and performer.

“I’ve crossed paths with Kris Kristofferson throughout my career quite a bit, and he’s always been very kind and generous to me,” Turner told the audience.

He then explained that he had just received the news of Kristofferson’s passing.

“I got the news right before we came out here on stage that he had passed away—let’s see if I can get through this. This is called ‘A Moment of Forever.’”

Turner went on to perform an emotional rendition of “A Moment of Forever,” one of Kristofferson’s songs that held a special place in his catalog.

Kristofferson co-wrote the song with Daniel Timms and released it as the title track of his 1995 album, A Moment of Forever. Although the song was never issued as a single, it became a favorite among listeners. Turner had also previously identified it as one of his favorite songs that Kristofferson recorded.

The performance was clearly an emotional one for Turner. When he finished singing, the audience responded with a standing ovation. Turner closed the tribute by saying, “We love you, Kris.”

A Tribute From an Artist Who Knew Him

Turner later shared a video of the performance on social media, allowing fans who were not at the concert to hear his tribute.

His connection with Kristofferson went beyond simply admiring his music. The two artists had worked together on an updated version of Kristofferson’s classic song “Why Me,” which appeared on Turner’s 2020 album Country State of Mind.

That collaboration gave Turner an opportunity to work directly with an artist whose songwriting had made such a lasting impact on country music.

By choosing “A Moment of Forever” for his first tribute after hearing of Kristofferson’s death, Turner offered a deeply personal farewell to someone he remembered as “very kind and generous.”

The performance also served as a reminder of how Kristofferson’s songs continue to connect generations of country artists. Through performers such as Turner, his music and influence remain part of the country music community.