Your Morning Kris

For Wednesday, October 9th, 2024

Week 81 of our regular morning feature here at Friedman of the Plains Worldwide in which we highlight the great words and works of great men and women, as well as those who are insufferable, delusional, and even fictional.

This Week Kris Kristofferson

That moment with Toby Keith that Ethan Hawke swears happened.

“[Toby] Keith's career was still riding high on the popularity of his post-9/11 anthem "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue." But that night, he played his smash-hit duet "Beer for My Horses" with Nelson. The story goes that he wished Nelson a happy birthday while backstage and made what was intended to be a passing remark to Kristofferson: "None of that lefty shit out there tonight, Kris."

"What the fuck did you just say to me?" Kris growled, stepping forward.

"Oh, no," groaned Willie under his breath. "Don't get Kris all riled up."

"You heard me," Keith said, walking away in the darkness.

"Don't turn your back to me, boy," Kristofferson shouted

Keith turned around: "I don't want any problems, Kris; I just want you to tone it down."

"You ever worn your country's uniform?" Kris asked rhetorically.

"What?"

"Don't 'What?' me, boy! You heard the question. You just don't like the answer." He paused just long enough to get a full chest of air. "I asked, 'Have you ever served your country?' The answer is, no, you have not. Have you ever killed another man? Huh? Have you ever taken another man's life and then cashed the check your country gave you for doing it? No, you have not. So shut the fuck up!" I could feel his body pulsing with anger next to me. "You don't know what the hell you are talking about!"

"Whatever," Keith muttered.