How impressive is Kris Kristofferson as a singer/songwriter? So impressive that the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) named its lifetime achievement award after Kristofferson.

And on Sunday, Kris paid it forward, presenting the Kristofferson lifetime achievement honor Sunday night (Jan. 27) to his friend Willie Nelson at the legendary Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, The Tennessean reports.

He's unlike anybody else, because he is one of the best songwriters who ever wrote in any language. He’s absolutely a unique singer who doesn’t sound like anybody else ever. . . . He’s probably the funniest human being I’ve ever known. Sometimes, I try to envision who God might be, and he always comes out looking like Willie.

“I’m really proud to be giving you this,” he told Willie. “I’m embarrassed that my face and my name is on it.”

“We can take that right off,” Willie replied.