Watch: Vince Gill Recalls Kris Kristofferson Flying Helicopter to Johnny Cash’s House to Hand-Deliver a Demo Tape (Exclusive)

Country music lost legendary singer, songwriter, and storyteller Kris Kristofferson on September 28. Kristofferson had been in declining health for years and passed away peacefully at his home in Maui, Hawaii.

The country music community has spent the week mourning his passing—and remembering their favorite Kristofferson stories.

In the days following Kristofferson’s death, Vince Gill reminisced with his wife, Amy Grant, about his favorite Kristofferson story.

“I love the story of him taking the helicopter out to Johnny Cash’s house,” Gill said. “He flew helicopters in Vietnam, I think, and decided he wanted to pitch Johnny ‘Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.’”

Gill explained that Kristofferson rented a helicopter, flew it over to Cash’s house, and landed the bird in Cash’s yard to hand-deliver him the demo tape.

Grant was aghast.

“Did they know each other?” she asked.

Vince Gill: “I Like To Remember People”

“No,” Gill said. “And Johnny winds up doing the song on the Johnny Cash Show.”
Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down lyrics include:

On the Sunday morning sidewalks| Wishing, Lord, that I was stoned| ‘Cause there’s something in a Sunday| Makes a body feel alone

Cash told Kristofferson that executives wanted him to swap the word stoned for something else on network television.

“Kris said, ‘I was there, and I just wanted him to sing those words,’” Gill recalled. “And he did. He just basically told him to go to Hell and sang it anyway.”

Gill said his favorite Kristofferson songs include “For the Good Times,” “Why Me, Lord,” and “Help Me Make it Through the Night.” When Gill plays the Grand Ole Opry this weekend, he plans to honor Kristofferson by playing one of his songs. Gill said he likes “to remember people.”

“Would you call this guy a great singer? Not necessarily,” Gill said. “But the songs were so stinking great that nobody cared. It’s just so well done, and that’s impressive to accomplish that legacy of songs.”

(Photo by Frank Mullen/WireImage)