It is a rare feat for a love song to transcend the silver screen to become a permanent fixture in the cultural soundtrack, but “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)” did exactly that. When the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born premiered, it was more than just a film—it was a cultural moment driven by the electric pairing of Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson . Yet, amidst the spectacle of Hollywood drama, it was a quiet, whispered melody that captured the world’s heart, becoming what many consider “the most perfect love song ever recorded” .
The true beauty of “Evergreen” lies in its simplicity. Streisand has long described it as a “big love song,” not because of grandiose orchestration, but because of its emotional purity. She wasn’t interested in a flashy showstopper; she wanted a “song about love—how soft it can be, how rare, and how fragile” .
A Star is Born: The Genesis of a “Big Love Song”
Unlike the typical Hollywood musical where songwriting duties are outsourced, Streisand was deeply involved in the creative process. Inspired by singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell, she had started taking guitar lessons . When she sat down to work with lyricist Paul Williams, she nervously picked up her guitar and played a melody she had been working on.
Williams vividly recalls the moment: “She was just learning to play the guitar… Barbra said, ‘I want to play you something to see if you can use it.’ She is a very impressive presence. It was the only time I ever saw her look uncertain” . After she played the melody, she asked, “Can you do anything with that?” Williams replied, “‘Are you kidding? It’s stunningly beautiful'” .
According to Williams, he told her, “There’s your love song. There’s the big love song” . This collaborative spark was serendipitous. Streisand had initially wanted Williams for one song, but he ambitiously pitched a full soundtrack. With only seven weeks until filming began, they agreed to work together, creating the musical backbone of the film .
Crafting the Perfect Lyric
The writing of “Evergreen” involved a touch of intuitive genius. Williams recalled that the now-iconic opening lines—”Love, soft as an easy chair / Love, fresh as the morning air”—almost didn’t exist in that order. “I actually wrote those first two lines in the opposite order… I called Barbra and said, ‘You know what, flip those two first lines, because it sings better'” .
He admitted he was nervous about the line, telling Streisand, “They’ll probably laugh us out of the theaters for starting a love song with a line about a chair, but I think it works better that way” . This humble approach to the songwriting—intimacy over bombast—became the song’s signature. The lyrics reflect the relationship at the heart of the film. The narrative follows Kristofferson’s character, a fading rock star, unraveling, but in “Evergreen,” time stops. There is no ego or addiction, just a moment of love suspended before its inevitable collapse.
The power of the song is further magnified by the vocal contrast between Streisand and Kristofferson. While Streisand’s voice soars with hope, Kristofferson’s voice is plain and conversational, grounding the song in a reality shadowed by impending loss . It feels less like a polished performance and more like two people quietly acknowledging the fragility of their love.
The Legacy of a Whisper
The world agreed. “Evergreen” became a massive success, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and spending six weeks atop the adult contemporary chart . The soundtrack itself reigned at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for six weeks .
At the 49th Academy Awards, the song won the Oscar for Best Original Song, making Streisand the first woman to win an Oscar as a composer . It also earned her a Grammy for Song of the Year and a Golden Globe, completing a “triple crown” of major awards . Interestingly, despite this success, Paul Williams later admitted the overwhelming fame took a personal toll. “When I won the Oscar in 1977, I wasn’t myself. The wind was so loud from what was going on and my own ego… Yet, here I was standing with an Oscar in my hand” .
Nearly five decades later, “Evergreen” remains a testament to the power of artistic vulnerability. Streisand’s accomplishment is even more impressive considering it was only her second composing credit . She wrote it not to impress, but to tell the truth about love.
A Reunion 43 Years in the Making
The bond forged during that film remains strong. Following Kris Kristofferson’s passing in 2024, Streisand remembered, “The first time I saw Kris performing at the Troubadour club in L.A. I knew he was something special… he seemed like the perfect choice for a script I was developing” .
Their enduring friendship and respect were on full display at a 2019 concert in London’s Hyde Park, where they reunited on stage to perform “Lost Inside of You,” another duet from the film . “He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause,” Streisand recalled. “It was a joy seeing him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved” .
In a world obsessed with loud, dramatic declarations of passion, “Evergreen” endures as the quiet heart of its film. It stands as a reminder that the greatest love songs don’t always shout; sometimes, they simply whisper . And in that whisper, Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson captured something eternal.