As Chris Cornell‘s daughter Toni turns 21, the Soundgarden singer’s widow Vicky Cornell shared a sweet birthday message along with a video of the dad and daughter singing together.
In the video, Cornell is strumming a guitar and singing Rihanna‘s chorus from Eminem‘s “Love the Way You Lie” along with Toni. “Just gonna stand there and watch me burn?/ Well, that’s all right because I like the way it hurts,” the pair sing together while lounging poolside. “Just gonna stand there and hear me cry?/ Well, that’s all right because I love the way you lie.”
It’s unclear how old Toni is in the clip, but the song was released in June 2010 when she would have been not quite 6 years old. Cornell died seven years later; the grunge icon was found dead in a Detroit hotel room in May 2017.
In Thursday’s (Sept. 18) birthday message, Vicky acknowledged the unimaginable loss that Toni has had to face (“I know it hasn’t been easy. Life threw you a heartbreaking curveball — a loss that no one should have to carry”), while applauding the way her daughter has “continued to grow, to love, and to shine. I’m so proud of you — and I know your daddy is too.”
Soundgarden is set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November.
See the video below, and read Vicky’s full message to her daughter.
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.
You were the most incredible little girl, and you’ve grown into the most incredible young woman. Your heart is rare — full of love, strength, compassion, and resilience.
I know it hasn’t been easy. Life threw you a heartbreaking curveball — a loss that no one should have to carry. 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.
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.
Happy 21st, to our beautiful girl