Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson

Sepia-toned photograph of an embracing Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, a replication of the poster for the movie A Star is Born

A Star is Born was released in 1976 and follows Esther Hoffman (Streisand), an aspiring singer who begins a passionate relationship with established rock star John Norman Howard (Kristofferson). As Esther’s fame rises, John struggles with addiction and professional decline.

The film was itself a remake: the story was first brought to the screen in 1937, remade as a musical starring Judy Garland and James Mason in 1954, and reimagined again in 2018 with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Streisand’s version reflects the aesthetics and attitudes of the 1970s, blending rock music culture with Hollywood melodrama and emphasizing themes of celebrity, self-destruction, and sacrifice. It became a commercial success and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song with “Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born),” which Streisand co-wrote and performed.