Vicky Cornell, the widow of Chris Cornell, shared a heartfelt throwback video of her late husband enjoying a tender moment with their daughter, Toni, in celebration of Toni’s 21st birthday.
Posted on Thursday, September 18, on Instagram, the video features Cornell strumming a guitar while he and a young Toni sing along to “Love the Way You Lie” by Eminem and Rihanna.
In her caption, Vicky, 46, celebrated Toni and reflected on her late husband, who tragically died by suicide in May 2017.
“21 years went by in a flash…. Thank you for choosing me to be your mommy — it’s the greatest gift I’ve ever been given. I feel so blessed and endlessly grateful for everything you’ve brought into my life,” Vicky expressed.
Miley Cyrus, Adam Levine, and members of Metallica were among the powerful artists who performed at the “I Am the Highway: A Tribute to Chris Cornell” concert on January 16, held at The Forum in Inglewood, California, to honor the late Soundgarden frontman. The Melvins opened the event.
“You were the most incredible little girl, and you’ve become the most extraordinary young woman. Your heart is rare — filled with love, strength, compassion, and resilience,” she added.
“I know it hasn’t been easy. Life threw you a heartbreaking curveball — a loss that no one should have to endure. But even through that, you’ve continued to grow, to love, and to shine. I’m so proud of you — and I know your daddy is too,” Vicky continued.
Vicky reminisced about Chris, saying, “From the very first moment he saw you on that ultrasound and heard, ‘It’s a girl!’ — you were his Baby Toni. That bond was something special, and even though he’s not physically here, I know he’s watching you, guiding you, and beaming with pride every single day.”
“This is the beginning of a whole new chapter in your life, and I couldn’t be more excited to watch you step into it. I love you. I adore you. You have been my strength, my reason, and my greatest joy,” Vicky concluded her heartfelt message with, “Happy 21st, to our beautiful girl 💓.”
Toni shares her love of music with her father, having first gained public attention when she performed a duet of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” with him in 2015. Vicky later paid tribute to Chris in 2019 by performing the same song with Marley’s eldest son, Ziggy Marley.
Chris Cornell, the lead singer of both Audioslave and Soundgarden, was found dead in a hotel bathroom in May 2017 in Detroit, Michigan, following a Soundgarden concert that evening. His death was ruled a suicide.
He is survived by his wife, Vicky, and their two children, Toni and Christopher, who is 19. He also had a daughter, Lilian Jean, with his first wife, Susan Silver.
