Tanya Tucker is reflecting on her friendship with the late Kris Kristofferson and the last time she saw the country legend before his death.
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Speaking with People, Tucker talked about filming the music video "On My Way to Heaven" with Kristofferson in 2019.
"I had a window so I could see when he got there," Tucker said of the legend. "I had my Marshall [speaker] set up, and I wanted to start playing a song that I recorded of his called 'Moment of Forever,' As soon as he sat down outside on the bench, I pushed play."
The gesture moved Kristofferson to tears.
Tanya Tucker Talks Kris Kristofferson
"It was my gift to him for just doing all that he and his wife were doing — flying 10 hours to come to be in that video," Tucker said. "It's a long way to go, you know?"
That music video finally premiered late last month, marking the last time fans will see Kristofferson. The icon died in 2024 at 88.
"I still remember the last time I saw him," recalls Tucker. "I have it on video. You can hear [Kristofferson's wife] Lisa saying, 'Now that's the eyes he's been looking for and hadn't seen in a while.' He just had a different look when he looked at you. It was just pure emotion and love. I remember him walking away, and he had those old black jeans on and a black t-shirt and those old boots on that he always wore. Without him, it'd be a terrible life — not to have him and his music in it. But I got to have him in it."
It's a video that still makes Tucker extremely emotional when she watches it.
"I wasn't holding onto it," she says. "I wanted to get it out as soon as possible. I'm really coming to a crossroads, I think, with me trying to decide about what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I don't think it's banging the road 200 days a year. I've got a lot of other talents that we need to investigate and see what we can do."
