Which Kris Kristofferson song became a posthumous hit for Janis Joplin in 1971?

Kris Kristofferson’s song “Me and Bobby McGee” became a posthumous hit for Janis Joplin in 1971.

Kristofferson co-wrote the song with Fred Foster, and it was first recorded by Roger Miller in 1969. Several artists later released versions, but Joplin’s performance became the best-known recording. Her version appeared on the album Pearl, which was released shortly after her death in October 1970.

Joplin’s recording reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1971. That made her the first solo artist to achieve a posthumous number-one single on that chart. The song’s famous line about freedom helped give it lasting cultural impact, although the narrative also describes a relationship ending and two travelers separating.

The title is sometimes misremembered as “Me and Bobby McGee,” a phrase that is correct, while the song is occasionally confused with Kristofferson’s separate hits “Help Me Make It Through the Night” and “Why Me.”