Christopher and Toni Cornell

Christopher and Toni Cornell

Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

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Chris Cornell's Children Discuss Their Father's Musical Legacy: "It Was His Passion"

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Backstage at the 2019 GRAMMY Awards, Chris Cornell's daughter Toni and son Christopher talk about their father's posthumous GRAMMY win and his role as a father
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Feb 13, 2019 - 5:57 pm

In perhaps the most bittersweet moment of the 61st GRAMMY Awards, late rock icon Chris Cornell won Best Rock Performance posthumously for his captivating song "When Bad Does Good." Cornell's family was in attendance, and his daughter Toni and son Christopher accepted the award on his behalf. 

Toni & Christopher Cornell | 2019 GRAMMYs

"I never thought we would be standing here without my dad," Christopher said during their acceptance speech at the GRAMMY Premiere Ceremony. "I'm sure he would be proud and honored. He was a rock icon, the Godfather of grunge and a creator of a movement. While he touched the hearts of millions, the most important thing he is known for, for us, is for being the greatest father and our hero."

"His voice was his vision and his music was his peace," Toni added, before thanking her mother, Vicky, who compiled the four-disc retrospective box-set containing "When Bad Does Good." "Thank you to our mom — his love, his muse and his savior who continues to carry out our father's legacy ... this is for you, daddy."

Backstage at the 61st GRAMMYs, our own one-on-one interview host Ted Stryker got the chance to speak with Toni and Christopher after their father's GRAMMY win. Stryker, who had spoken with Chris Cornell many times in the past, asked Toni and Christopher how it felt to accept the award on their father's behalf. 

"He was always working so hard. It was his passion," Toni told Stryker backstage. "To see him win is so rewarding but at the same time, I wish he was here."

While Cornell's incredible legacy as a songwriter, vocalist and musician looms large, his children also offered insight on his role as a father. 

"He was always there," Toni continued. "There was never a time he wasn't there. Even when he was on tour, we would always speak to him. He was just so hands-on, and he always made sure we were okay, that we were safe, and of course with our mom involved, too. He was such an involved father, and I think that's the worst part about everything that's happened."

Cornell passed away on May 17, 2017. Just last month, the star-studded tribute concert I Am The Highway was held in Los Angeles featuring performances by Fiona Apple, Brandi Carlile, Miley Cyrus, Foo Fighters, Josh Homme, Adam Levine, Ziggy Marley, Metallica, Miguel, and Chris Stapleton.

Cornell has 16 total career GRAMMY nominations and his posthumous win at this year's GRAMMY marked the third of his illustrious career, the first two coming at the 37th GRAMMY Awards for 1994 when Soundgarden took home Best Hard Rock Performance for "Black Hole Sun" and Best Metal Performance for "Spoonman." 

2019 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees And Winners List

 

 

Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile

Photo: David Crotty/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

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Brandi Carlile: Women "Getting More Involved In The Building Blocks Of The Infrastructure Of Our Business"

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Following in the footsteps of the women she used to stay up late to watch perform on the GRAMMYs, the inspirational singer/songwriter talks about what this landmark year for women means to her
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Feb 15, 2019 - 11:49 am

Brandi Carlile had quite a night at the 61st GRAMMY Awards, winning in three of her categories: Best Americana Album for By The Way, I Forgive You and Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song for "The Joke."

Brandi Carlile: 2019 GRAMMYs Backstage Interview

During an interview backstage in the TV/Radio room, Carlile reflected on what the night meant not only for her career, but her genre, the gay community, and especially for women in music this year.

"It wasn't strictly a vocalist year. We talked a lot about producers. Linda Perry didn't win but she did an amazing job this year, and I hope that she wins next year. We got our first mastering engineer [Emily Lazar] that won this year," Carlile said to a room full of reporters. "I'm producing records, and am really heartened by women who are getting more involved in the building locks of the infrastructure of our business."

Carlile also saw her performance of "The Joke" during the GRAMMY telecast as a full-circle moment, recalling some of her early inspirational GRAMMY moments.

"I was allowed to stay up late at night as a young child to watch Whitney and Celine and Aretha hit the notes on the GRAMMYs, and to think that some gay kid somewhere in some small town got to stay up late tonight to see me hit the notes is something that I'll never forget," she added.

Carlile also talked about what the Americana genre means to her, how "The Joke" grew from a challenge by producer Dave Cobb and more. 

2019 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees And Winners List

Cardi B

Cardi B

Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage

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Cardi B, Camila Cabello, Post Malone, Janelle Monáe & More To Perform At The 2019 GRAMMYs

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Kacey Musgraves, Dan + Shay and Shawn Mendes also set to take the GRAMMY stage on Feb. 10 for Music's Biggest Night
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jan 17, 2019 - 6:32 am

The 61st GRAMMY Awards are beginning to come to life as the Recording Academy has announced the first group of artists to perform at this year's show. Current nominees Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Dan + Shay, Post Malone, Shawn Mendes, Janelle Monáe, and Kacey Musgraves will take the GRAMMY stage on Feb. 10. 

Making her GRAMMY performance debut, Cabello received two nominations for Best Pop Solo Performance for "Havana [Live]" and Best Pop Vocal Album for her debut full-lenght, Camila.

Cardi B has five nominations this year, including Record Of The Year for "I Like It", Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album for her debut full-lenght, Invasion Of Privacy, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Maroon 5 for "Girls Like You" and Best Rap Performance for "Be Careful."

First-time GRAMMY nominees Dan + Shay are up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Tequila," while fellow first-time nominee Post Malone received four nominations: Record Of The Year and Best Rap/Sung Performance for "Rockstar" with 21 Savage, Album Of The Year for Beerbongs & Bentleys and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Better Now." 

Taking the GRAMMY stage for the first time, Mendes is nominated for Song Of The Year for "In My Blood" and Best Pop Vocal Album for Shawn Mendes.

Current two-time GRAMMY nominee Monáe is up for Album Of The Year for Dirty Computer and Best Music Video for "PYNK."

Two-time GRAMMY winner and current nominee Musgraves is up for four GRAMMY Awards, Album Of The Year and Best Country Album for Golden Hour, Best Country Solo Performance for "Butterflies" and Best Country Song for "Space Cowboy."

Hosted by Alicia Keys, the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in HDTV and 5.1 surround sound on the CBS Television Network, Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.

Alicia Keys To Host the 2019 GRAMMY Awards

GRAMMYs

Ken Ehrlich

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Ken Ehrlich Announced As Executive Producer For 62nd GRAMMYs, Ben Winston Named New Executive Producer For 63rd GRAMMYs

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Ehrlich to celebrate his milestone 40th GRAMMY Telecast On Music's Biggest Night, Jan. 26, 2020
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jul 17, 2019 - 6:30 am

The Recording Academy announced Ken Ehrlich, longtime producer/executive producer of the GRAMMY Awards, will be the executive producer of the upcoming 62nd GRAMMY Awards, to be held on Jan. 26, 2020 in Los Angeles. The telecast will mark Ehrlich's milestone 40th anniversary of making Music's Biggest Night the must-see music awards show year after year. 

In his four decades as executive producer, Ehrlich has organized some of music's most iconic and memorable TV moments and, as the Los Angeles Times put it,  "redefined the way we experience live music on television." Since producing his first GRAMMY Awards show in 1980, he has become known for his signature touch: incredible and unexpected pairings such as Eminem and Elton John, Prince and Beyoncé, and Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Joe Walsh.

"To have been a part of the growth of the GRAMMY Awards into the preeminent music awards show of our time has been one of the highlights of my professional life, and I'm grateful to the Recording Academy and to our partners at CBS for their support and for trusting my vision over the past four decades," said Ehrlich. "I have also been the happy recipient of having an incredible group of people who have worked on the show over the years, and of course the most amazing cadre of musical artists who bring their own creativity and brilliance to the GRAMMY stage year after year. I want to wish my successor Ben the best as he assumes the executive producer role. I am confident that his abilities in all aspects of production will both ensure the legacy of the GRAMMY Awards and also instill a new creative direction for the show."

"Ken's imprint on the GRAMMY Awards and the music industry are well-known and represent the kind of work and vision that legends are made of," said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of the Recording Academy. "Having worked closely with Ken for almost half of his tenure with the show, I have seen first-hand the vision, extraordinary musical knowledge, and passion he brings to every minute of the process, and the spectacular results and memorable GRAMMY Moments that have been delivered. It's an honor to celebrate his 40th anniversary with the GRAMMYs. I also recognize the wonderful opportunity ahead by bringing the immensely talented, innovative, and well-respected Ben Winston into the family, and we look forward to his enthusiastic and forward-thinking approach to presenting music on television."

The Academy also announced Emmy Award winner Ben Winston will become the sole executive producer for the 63rd GRAMMY Awards telecast in 2021. 

GRAMMYs

Ben Winston

"It's an absolute honor to be executive producer of the GRAMMYs for 2021," said Winston. "I feel excitement and nerves in equal measure on taking on this role, but mostly I feel immense gratitude to the Recording Academy for this wonderful opportunity. I also want to salute Ken, who has done an absolutely remarkable job over the last 40 years."

Winston is a multifaceted and award-winning producer, director, and writer with credits in television, movies, music videos, and commercials. A six-time Emmy Award winner and a 22-time nominee, he has produced a multitude of shows including "The Late Late Show with James Corden," co-created "Carpool Karaoke," and "Drop The Mic" and has produced many music specials for artists such as Bruno Mars, Sam Smith, Harry Styles, Justin Bieber to name a few. Winston has also made his mark in the live envents space, as a producer of the Brits awards and Tony awards, in the documentary film world and as a music video director.

The 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards will take place Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, and will be broadcast live on the CBS.

Dates Announced For 62nd GRAMMY Awards Process & GRAMMY Week 2020 Events

 

Chris and Vicky Cornell

Chris and Vicky Cornell

Photo: CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images

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Vicky Cornell To Congress: "We Must Integrate Addiction Treatment Into Our Health Care System"

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Following Chris Cornell's tragic death in 2017, his wife continues to speak up about mental health and substance abuse. This time she spoke in front of Congress
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 27, 2019 - 5:36 pm

Vicky Cornell, the widow of late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, visited Washington D.C. on Feb. 25 to testify before the Congressional Bipartisan Heroin And Opioid Task Force on the opioid crisis. She advocated for better addiction training for health care professionals in the face of the growing epidemic, underscoring that her husband's death "was not inevitable."

"Chris had a brain disease and a doctor who, unfortunately, like many, was not properly trained or educated on addiction," Cornell told the task force, according to People. "We must integrate addiction treatment into our health care system—no more false narratives about the need to hit rock bottom, no more secret societies, no more shame—we must educate health care providers on how to treat addiction and best support recovery."

The rock icon was found dead by suicide in his hotel room in Detroit on May 17, 2017 following a Soundgarden concert. The toxicology report revealed prescription medications in his system, including Ativan, a benzodiazepine he was prescribed as a sleep aid, although the medical examiner said these drugs did not directly "contribute to the cause of death."

Vicky believes that her husband would still be here today if he had been treated by a doctor better educated in addiction, which he had struggled with for years before going sober.

"He didn't want to die. If he was of sound mind, I know he wouldn't have done this… Addiction is a disease. That disease can take over you and has full power," she told People in 2017.

Toni & Christopher Cornell | 2019 GRAMMYs

Earlier this month, Cornell posthumously won Best Rock Performance for "When Bad Does Good" at the 61st GRAMMY Awards." His children Toni and Christopher accepted the GRAMMY on his behalf in a tear-jerking moment.

"I never thought we would be standing here without my dad," Cornell's son Christopher said during their acceptance speech. "I'm sure he would be proud and honored. He was a rock icon, the Godfather of grunge and a creator of a movement. While he touched the hearts of millions, the most important thing he is known for, for us, is for being the greatest father and our hero."

If you or a loved one is dealing with substance abuse, there are resources that can help—MusiCares offers free addiction recovery services for people in the music industry, including support groups in several states.    

Remembering Chris Cornell: A Sweet Sunshower