Inside Taylor Swift and Kris Kristofferson's friendship before his death

Kris Kristofferson had a special friendship with Taylor Swift.

The country star, who died Saturday at age 88, became friends with Swift, 34, in the early years of her career before she became a mainstream pop star.

In 2010, both musicians were at the annual All for the Hall concert to benefit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Country Music Museum in Nashville. Swift, then 20, took the stage at the event, which honored Kristofferson as well as Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill and Lionel Richie.

“These are the best role models I can have,” Swift told the 2,000-strong crowd, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The couple also crossed paths at the 2009 Country Music Association Awards.

Kristofferson presented Swift with the Female Vocalist of the Year award. The “Style” singer hugged Kristofferson as she accepted the award.

Two and a half years before his death, Kristofferson shared his first-ever Instagram post, which, fittingly, was about his friendship with Swift.

The Valentine's Day 2022 post included a photo of the duo each making a heart sign with their hands at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum event in 2010.

“There's no better way to launch Kris' official @instagram account than with this picture of him and @taylorswift at the @officialcmhof All For The Hall benefit concert in 2010! #HappyValentinesDay,” the caption read.

Swift has not yet publicly responded to the news of Kristofferson's death.

The popular “For the Good Times” singer died over the weekend surrounded by his family. A cause of death was not given.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our husband/father/grandfather Kris Kristofferson passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 28th,” his family, including his wife Lisa and eight children, said in a statement Variety.

“We are all so blessed for our time with him. Thank you for loving him for all these many years and when you see a rainbow, know that he is smiling down on all of us,” the statement continued.

Kristofferson announced his retirement in 2021. A statement from his management at the time indicated that the artist had slowly retreated from the spotlight.

Several celebrities paid tribute to Kristofferson following his death, including his A Star Is Born co-star Barbra Streisand.

Streisand, 82, shared a photo of the couple's 1976 album cover from the Oscar-winning film, as well as a more recent photo of the duo together on stage.

“When I first saw Kris perform at the Troubadour club in LA, I knew he was special,” she wrote on Instagram, adding that Kristofferson was “the perfect choice” to star in the film.

She also recalled their reunion at their 2019 concert in London's Hyde Park, where they sang “Lost Inside Of You” from “A Star Is Born.”

“He was as charming as ever, and the audience showered him with applause,” Streisand wrote. “It was a joy to see him receive the recognition and love he so richly deserved.”