Cornell was married to Susan Silver, the manager of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.They had a daughter, Lillian Jean, born in June 2000.He and Silver divorced in 2004. In December 2008, Cornell reported via his official website that he had finally won back his collection of 15 guitars after a four-year court battle with Silver.
He was married to Vicky Karayiannis, a Paris-based American publicist of Greek heritage. The union produced a daughter, Toni, born in September 2004, and a son, Christopher Nicholas, born in December 2005.Cornell converted to the Greek Orthodox Church through her influence.
When asked how Cornell beat all his addictions he stated, “It was a long period of coming to the realization that this way (sober) is better. Going through rehab, honestly, did help…it got me away from just the daily drudgery of depression and either trying to not drink or do drugs or doing them and you know, they give you such a simple message that any idiot can get and it’s just over and over, but the bottom line is really, and this is the part that is scary for everyone, the individual kinda has to want it…not kinda, you have to want it and to not do that crap anymore or you will never stop and it will just kill you.”
In a 2011 interview, Cornell said the major change with the reformed Soundgarden is a lack of alcohol: “The biggest difference I noticed… and we haven’t even really talked about it: There are no bottles of Jack Daniels around or beers. And we never talked about… it’s just not there.”
On May 17, 2017, Cornell died suddenly in Detroit after performing at a show with Soundgarden according to his representative, Brian Bumbery. The cause of death is currently unknown, though Detroit Police confirmed they are investigating Cornell’s death as a possible suicide.
