Kris Kristofferson gives an encore performance in Nashville

More than 50 years ago, an unknown songwriter named Kris Kristofferson was sweeping the floors of Columbia Recording Studios in Nashville. 

On Thursday, he was towering over Music City.

For a small, spellbound audience, the 81-year-old strummed his guitar and sang "Me and Bobby McGee" on the top floor of one of Nashville's biggest music offices. 

The performance happened at WME Nashville, as Kristofferson and his friends celebrated the impending release of "The Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson."

The concert film and live album captures the all-star tribute to him held at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena this past March. 

More:Happy 80th birthday, Kris Kristofferson

Kristofferson smiled and tapped his foot as they showed footage of his duet with Willie Nelson from that night:  "Sunday Morning Coming Down." He also chuckled modestly as others in the room called him a Renaissance man, compared him to Vincent Van Gogh and said he belonged on the Mount Rushmore of songwriting.

"At any given moment, this is the smartest, most charismatic, best-looking cat in the room," said music producer Don Was, who served as bandleader at the tribute concert.

Kristofferson sat quietly for most of the discussion, but offered up his recollections of writing his classic "Why Me" after attending a church service.

"I wasn't used to going to church," he said with a laugh. "It just came to me there, so I figured it was from somebody up above...it's just the way I communicate. Writing a song is a picture of your emotions, and your brain and what's going on."

Between turns on his harmonica, Kristofferson's voice was crisp and strong on the two songs he performed on Thursday: "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Why Me." The performance came the morning after he performed at Bridgestone Arena for Kenny Rogers' farewell concert.

As his audience gave him a standing ovation, he smiled and proclaimed, "Thank you, Nashville!"

"The Life and Songs of Kris Kristofferson" hits stores on Friday. CMT will also air the concert special at 9 p.m. CT Friday.