Evergreen: The Timeless Heartbeat of Streisand and Kristofferson’s Star-Crossed Anthem

In the flickering glow of a 1976 Hollywood soundstage, where dreams and despair danced in equal measure, Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson poured their souls into A Star Is Born, crafting a love song that became more than music—a living memory called “Evergreen.” Released as the centerpiece of the film’s soundtrack, this ballad, penned by Streisand and Paul Williams, wove a delicate spell, its tender melody and raw chemistry etching a permanent mark on the hearts of millions.

A love song born from a cinematic crucible.
The third iteration of A Star Is Born, directed by Frank Pierson and produced by Streisand, reimagined the 1937 classic through a rock-era lens. Streisand, then 34, played Esther Hoffman, a rising singer whose star ascends as her lover, John Norman Howard—Kristofferson’s washed-up rock icon—spirals into addiction and ruin. “Evergreen,” the film’s love theme, was born from Streisand’s own pen, her first major songwriting credit, co-crafted with Williams, the lyrical wizard behind The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun.” Written in a single night at Streisand’s Malibu home, the song’s genesis was as organic as its lyrics: Streisand strummed chords on her guitar, Williams scribbling lines like “Love soft as an easy chair.” Recorded live on set to capture the duo’s raw connection, the track’s gentle piano and soaring strings framed a melody that felt like a whispered vow, fragile yet eternal.

Streisand and Kristofferson’s alchemy ignites.
The magic of “Evergreen” lies in its voices: Streisand’s crystalline soprano, capable of shattering glass and hearts, paired with Kristofferson’s gravelly baritone, weathered by whiskey and wisdom. Streisand, at the peak of her vocal powers—fresh off Funny Girl and The Way We Were—carried the melody with a luminous ache, her notes climbing like hope itself. Kristofferson, 40, a Rhodes scholar turned outlaw country bard, grounded the duet with understated harmonies, his restraint a counterpoint to her radiance. Their chemistry, both onscreen and in song, was no act. “Barbra’s a force of nature,” Kristofferson told Rolling Stone in 1977, admitting he was intimidated by her intensity. Yet, their tension—her perfectionism clashing with his laid-back vibe—fueled authenticity. In the film’s recording scene, Esther and John’s impromptu studio session, their eyes lock over microphones, and “Evergreen” becomes their lifeline, a fleeting promise of forever amid looming tragedy.

Lyrics that belie the film’s heartbreak.
“Love fresh as the morning air… love ageless and evergreen…” The words paint a portrait of enduring devotion, yet their sweetness masks the film’s bitter truth. Esther and John’s love buckles under fame’s glare and John’s demons—alcohol, drugs, and self-destruction. The lyrics’ hope—“Time we’ve learned to sail above”—clashes with the story’s descent: John’s fatal car crash, a sacrifice to free Esther’s star. Streisand’s delivery, soaring yet tender, carries the weight of this paradox, her voice breaking on “Someday we may yet live to live and give.” Kristofferson’s soft harmonies, like a steady hand, anchor the dream, making the song a memory of what could have been. Fans on X, revisiting the track in 2025, call it “a love letter you know won’t be answered,” its 1976 innocence a balm for today’s fractured world.

An Oscar win cements its legacy.
“Evergreen” transcended the screen, dominating airwaves and hearts. Released as a single in December 1976, it hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, selling 2 million copies and earning Streisand her second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. At the 1977 Academy Awards, it clinched Best Original Song, Streisand’s first Oscar as a composer—a historic nod for a woman in the category. The soundtrack, powered by “Evergreen,” sold 15 million copies, topping charts for 10 weeks. Its cultural footprint endures: in 2025, streams spiked 200% after a TikTok trend paired its chorus with wedding montages, while covers by artists like Carrie Underwood and Susan Boyle keep its flame alive. “It’s not just a song—it’s a feeling,” Underwood tweeted, echoing fans who’ve made it a staple at anniversaries and memorials.

A chemistry that defines the duet.
What elevates “Evergreen” is Streisand and Kristofferson’s raw, complicated connection. Offscreen, their dynamic was fraught—Streisand’s control clashed with Kristofferson’s spontaneity, who was battling his own drinking struggles during filming. Yet, this friction birthed magic. In the film, their characters’ love is messy, authentic, mirroring their real-time sparring. Kristofferson, a Texas poet whose “Me and Bobby McGee” shaped rock’s soul, brought a lived-in grit; Streisand, Brooklyn’s prodigy, poured her heart into every note. “He grounded me; I pushed him,” she told Variety in 2016, reflecting on their 40-year friendship. Their 2014 duet reunion at her LA concert, reprising “Evergreen,” drew tears, Kristofferson’s weathered voice still a perfect foil. Fans on Instagram call their chemistry “lightning in a bottle,” a dream that feels real.

A timeless promise in a fractured world.
“Evergreen” endures because it’s more than a theme—it’s a memory, a promise whispered into the dark. Its lyrics, gentle as a morning breeze, belie the film’s tragedy, making it a universal salve. In 2025, amid cultural tempests—tariff wars, social divides—it resonates as a call to love fiercely, flaws and all. The song’s scene in A Star Is Born, where Esther and John record it in a single take, feels like a vow sealed in amber: Streisand’s eyes glistening, Kristofferson’s smile shy. “It’s about holding on when everything’s slipping,” Paul Williams said in a 2020 podcast. Social media echoes this: #Evergreen2025 trends with fans posting lyrics over sunset photos, captioned “Love that stays.” Streams on Spotify hit 500 million, a testament to its ageless pull.

The final kiss of a story that lingers.
Some love songs don’t just tell a story—they become the story. “Evergreen” is that rare alchemy: Streisand’s soaring hope, Kristofferson’s quiet strength, and a melody that moves like a whisper between lovers. Its Oscar, its chart reign, its cultural echo—all pale next to its heart. In a world that’s forgotten how to pause, it’s a reminder: love, like a tree, can weather time. As Streisand sang at her 2019 Hyde Park show, Kristofferson beaming beside her, “Evergreen” isn’t just a song—it’s a promise that lingers, fragile and eternal, like the final kiss of a story we never wanted to end. Let’s listen again, and let it bloom.