Chris Cornell statue to debut in Seattle next month; Vicky Cornell pays tribute on late husband's birthday

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ABC/Randy Holmes

ABC/Randy HolmesThe planned statue of Chris Cornell will make its debut in the late Soundgarden frontman’s hometown of Seattle next month. It will be unveiled during a public ceremony on August 29, and will be donated to the city’s Museum of Pop Culture.

“Even though Chris’ music touched the lives of millions around the world, there is no better place than Seattle to honor and celebrate both his contribution to music history, as well as Seattle’s unique place in popular music, with an enduring symbol of a beloved artist, father, and husband,” says Chris’ widow, Vicky.

She continues, “Our children and I are deeply moved by the continued outpouring of love, compassion, and support, and this is our gift to the Museum of Pop Culture and to Seattle — our gift back to the tight-knit community that gave him his start.”

Created by sculptor Nick Marra, the bronze statue will represent Cornell wearing his signature boots, dog tag and long hair.

Plans for the statue were first announced last August, three months after Cornell’s death on May 18, 2017. Speaking with the Seattle Times about the statue, Vicky said, “He is Seattle’s son, and we will be bringing him home and honoring him.”

The announcement of the statue comes on what would’ve been Cornell’s 54th birthday. To mark the occasion, Vicky shared a video of her late husband performing live while an acoustic recording of him singing the Audioslave song “I Am the Highway” plays in the background.

“Happy Birthday my love,” Vicky writes alongside the video. “Your life touched so many, you left your mark forever on millions of hearts everywhere. You were a rare gift to the world that is forever changed without you.”

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