On this day in August 1973, songwriter Kris Kristofferson and singer Rita Coolidge married in Malibu, California, uniting two already-established musical careers. Coolidge was a sought-after backing vocalist who had worked with Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix and Joe Cocker, while Kristofferson was gaining recognition as a songwriter behind hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Sunday Morning Coming Down." The pair had met on a flight from California to Tennessee in 1971, and their romance quickly led to marriage and a fruitful musical partnership.

During their seven-year marriage, the couple recorded three collaborative albums, beginning with Full Moon, which topped the country albums chart shortly after their wedding. Although none of their joint singles became major hits, "From the Bottle to the Bottom" and "Lover Please" each won them the Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, in 1974 and 1976 respectively. Kristofferson and Coolidge divorced in 1980, but both later described an enduring personal bond that outlasted their marriage.