Chris Cornell's Widow Vicky Blames Herself And Addiction For His Death: 'He Was The Best Husband'
Vicky Cornell, wife of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, sits down for her first interview since her husband took his own life last May.
The widow opened up candidly to ABC News anchor Robin Roberts, touching on Chris' addiction, death, and her regrets at not identifying the clues of the musician's struggles.
Chris, 52 at the time of his death, was discovered dead in a hotel in Detroit last year. Medical examiners ruled it as suicide by hanging, discovering a number of different drugs in his system.
Cornell's Addiction
Addiction was a constant challenge for Chris throughout his life, from alcohol to drugs. Before his death, he was taking an anxiety prescription medicine Ativan. The night of his death, he reportedly called Vicky and said he took one or two extra Ativan pills.
Now, it's important to Vicky that her husband isn't seen as just a typical sex, drugs, and rock and roll star.
"My husband was the furthest thing from a rock star junkie," she says. "He just wasn't. He was the best husband, the greatest father. I lost my soulmate and the love of my life."
"He wanted to be there for his family, for his children. He loved his life. He would never have ever left this world," Vicky adds.
The widow also acknowledges the stigma attached to addiction, saying even she has been guilty of not thinking of it as a disease in the past. Contrary to a lot of people's assumptions, she explains, addiction is not actually a choice.
The Blame Game
The tragedy of Chris' death was a huge blow to the Cornell family, and Vicky even finds herself regretful of the fact that she didn't see the warning signs before the singer took his life.
"I know that people say ... you can't blame yourself," she shares. "I'm trying not to, but there were signs."
Chris married Vicky back in 2004. He is survived by his wife, their two children Toni, 13, and Christopher, 12, and daughter Lily, 17, from his former wife, Susan Silver.
Vicky's interview with Good Morning America will air on Wednesday, Feb. 21 on ABC.
In Chris's Own Words
A previously unheard interview in a new episode of Mistress Carrie's Side Piece Podcast for WAAF Boston was recently transcribed on NME. The haunting interview included a discussion about Chris' battle with depression.
While the Soundgarden legend recognizes his life as being very fortunate, he also calls it chaotic.
"I've gone through some pretty dark periods — some of it self-imposed, some of it just losing close friends and people that I miss," Chris says, before answering a question about his happiest experience. "I never even knew that this was a way that life can be like. Being happily married; having a family be part of my career, where it's not a juggling act — where's it's just, 'This is what we all do, together.' That makes it better!"
He also explains that the change in his songwriting process for his 2007 solo album Carry On was significant in improving his well-being. Instead of being cooped up in a studio and writing by himself, Chris spent the time at home and with his children just outside the door. With his family nearby, the rocker found it easier to be at ease.
"I never had that isolating feeling that I used to get, and part of that is what brought on depression for me sometimes," he says.
