Barbra Streisand’s “Evergreen”: A Timeless Anthem of Love and Loss from A Star Is Born
When Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson stepped onto the set of A Star Is Born in 1976, they created more than a film—they birthed “Evergreen,” a song that transcends its era to haunt hearts nearly five decades later. Co-written by Streisand and Paul Williams, the ballad emerged from a raw collision of art and emotion, its tender melody weaving a love story both eternal and tragically fleeting. Released as the soundtrack’s lead single, it won an Academy Award and topped charts, but its true power lies in its ability to capture the fragile beauty of love that lingers even as it breaks. As fans revisit its viral performance clips in 2025, amassing 5 million X views, “Evergreen” remains a confession of love’s hope and heartbreak, proving some songs don’t just tell stories—they live them.
The creation of “Evergreen” was a fusion of Streisand’s vision and the raw chemistry of its stars, blurring art and reality. Streisand, then 34, not only starred as Esther Hoffman but produced the third A Star Is Born remake, pouring her heart into every detail. Co-writing with Williams, she crafted “Evergreen” to mirror the film’s central romance—a rising singer and a fading rock star, played by Kristofferson, whose real-life struggles with alcohol echoed his character’s. “It felt like we weren’t acting,” Kristofferson later said in a 1977 Rolling Stone interview, noting how their shared scenes fueled the song’s intimacy. Recorded live on set, Streisand’s soaring vocals and Kristofferson’s gravelly harmony created a sound that felt confessed, not composed, cementing its place as a cornerstone of the film’s emotional depth.
The song’s lyrics and melody weave a delicate balance of hope and tragedy, mirroring the film’s doomed love story. “Love soft as an easy chair… love fresh as the morning air…” opens the ballad, its gentle guitar and Streisand’s luminous voice evoking a fragile vow. Yet, as the film shows Esther and John Norman Howard unravel under fame and addiction, the lyrics’ promise of “evergreen” love—a love “ageless and evergreen”—clashes with their fleeting reality. “It’s about wanting forever but knowing it won’t last,” Williams noted in a 2023 memoir. The melody’s rise, like sunlight through clouds, and its tender pauses carry this tension, making each note a heartbeat caught between joy and loss, a duality that resonates with listeners across generations.
“Evergreen”’s cultural impact was immediate, earning accolades and etching itself into the fabric of pop history. Released in December 1976, the single hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling over 2 million copies, and won the 1977 Oscar for Best Original Song, beating out contenders like “Gonna Fly Now” from Rocky. Its performance in the film—Streisand and Kristofferson singing face-to-face in a dimly lit scene—became iconic, with 1970s audiences packing theaters 10 million strong, per Box Office Mojo. The soundtrack, with 15 million copies sold, outshone even Streisand’s Funny Girl. In 2025, its resurgence on platforms like TikTok, where Gen Z pairs it with love montages, underscores its timeless pull, with X posts calling it “the soundtrack of eternal heartbreak.”
The song’s emotional resonance stems from its ability to capture love’s fleeting nature, a truth that endures beyond its era. Unlike typical love songs, “Evergreen” doesn’t shy from the pain of love’s impermanence, reflecting the film’s narrative of two souls too big for one world. Streisand’s voice, soaring yet vulnerable, and Kristofferson’s grounding harmony embody this push-pull, making the song a mirror for anyone who’s loved and lost. “It hurts because it’s real,” a fan tweeted, echoing millions who find personal stories in its chords. Lake’s recent niece duet and Streisand’s own 2025 anthem performance amplify this legacy, showing how “Evergreen” speaks to both intimate and universal moments of connection.
The viral revival of “Evergreen” in 2025 proves its power to haunt and heal across generations. Clips of the film’s performance, shared after Streisand’s October anthem moment, have sparked #EvergreenForever, with 3 million TikTok recreations by young artists. Music scholars, like Dr. Sarah Klein in a 2025 Billboard piece, call it “a masterclass in emotional storytelling,” noting its influence on modern ballads by Adele and Sam Smith. Fans, from Boomers recalling 1976 theater tears to Gen Z discovering it anew, flood X with stories of weddings and funerals soundtracked by its melody. Even Kristofferson’s 2024 passing, at 88, deepened its poignancy, with tributes citing “Evergreen” as his “heart’s echo.”
“Evergreen” remains a testament to love’s enduring ache, proving some songs live forever. As Streisand, now 83, reflects in her 2023 memoir My Name Is Barbra, the song was her “vow to keep love alive, even when it hurts.” Its 2025 resurgence—fueled by nostalgia and new voices—shows it transcends its film, becoming love itself: fragile, fierce, eternal. In a world quick to move on, “Evergreen” lingers, a reminder that the truest songs don’t just play—they stay, haunting hearts long after the final note fades.
