Vicky Cornell is impressed with the way many of music’s most popular artists have honored her late husband, Chris Cornell, since he died by suicide at age 52 in May 2017.
Vicky spoke to Us Weekly exclusively at the 2019 Grammys on Sunday, February 10, after she and their two children — daughter, Toni, 14, and son, Christopher, 13 — accepted his posthumous award for Best Rock Performance for his song, “When Bad Does Good.”
“I think they gave their heart,” Vicky told Us of last month’s tribute concert, “I Am the Highway: A Tribute to Chris Cornell.” “Everyone gave such great performances but there were a few performances that touched me, moved me and I was [like], ‘Wow.’ An unexpected wow. I mean, Miley Cyrus, she’s an amazing singer and performer, but wow.”
Vicky added that Cyrus’ version of “Say Hello to Heaven” was “unbelievable” before addressing Adam Levine’s performance. “’Seasons’ is my son’s favorite song. I thought Adam Levine killed it,” she said. “He did an amazing job, I think he put his heart and soul into it and he felt it and you could feel all that love coming out. Brandi Carlile made me cry during rehearsals for ‘Black Hole Sun.’”
The tribute concert was held at The Forum in Inglewood, California, on January 16, and also featured performances from members of Metallica, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and a duet between Chris and Vicky’s daughter, Toni, and Ziggy Marley. The two earned a standing ovation for their cover of Bob Marley‘s “Redemption Song.”
Vicky shared a heartfelt message of thanks to the audience at the time. “We all know how music can change us, but Chris did something more extraordinary — he changed music and paved the way for so many from Seattle to across the globe. And that legacy, and his influence, will live for generations to come. I am so proud that, along with his legacy, his philanthropic work continues to grow and flourish,” she said. “Chris would be so very proud. Simply put, to me, and because of all of you, Chris lives on, a music immortal whose passion for helping others is more alive today than ever. Thank you, again.”
With reporting by Marisa Sullivan
