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Chris Cornell's 12 -Year-Old Daughter Gives Touching Tribute To Her Dad and Chester Bennington
The world lost a genuine talent when Chris Cornell committed suicide in May 2017, but more than that, his family lost a loving husband and father.
Cornell had been married to publicist Vicky Karayiannis since 2004, and the couple had two children, daughter Toni and son Christopher, along with Cornell's daughter from a previous marriage, Lillian.
The Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman often spoke very lovingly about his family, stating to SeattlePi.com in 2006;
“I came from a childhood where I spent a lot of time alone and a lot of time just living with my imagination, and a certain amount of the adult world was kind of alienating And I find now after spending a lot of time with my babies, they’re my best friends. And I still find a certain part of the adult world alienating, so I’d rather just hang out with my kids.”
His wife also continues to speak highly of him to this day, saying to People Magazine shortly after his death that “My Chris was happy, loving, caring and warm. This was not a depressed man—it wasn’t like I missed that. What I missed were the signs of addiction.” She later added that “Chris was humble, sweet, kind and good, with the patience of a saint.”
His family clearly remembers him fondly, which is why on Good Morning America, his youngest daughter Toni paid tribute to him. She also mentioned his good friend Chester Bennington, who committed suicide on what would've been Cornell's birthday.
Click to the next page for Toni's touching tribute to her late father.
Toni had already paid tribute to Cornell on Father's Day, writing;
"Whenever I cry or feel like there’s no way I can go on, I hear your voice, ‘Don’t sit worrying peanut. Worry is a waste of time, I’m ok,’ ” she continued. “I always took what you said to heart. Probably because everything you said was so smart.”
Appearing on Good Morning America on August 4, 2017, Toni paid tribute to both her father and the late Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington, by singing a rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," the song Chester himself sang at Cornell's funeral.
She performed alongside OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house.