The Truth About Late Singer Chester Bennington's Personal Life

Chester Bennington walked down the aisle twice in his lifetime: The singer is survived by his six kids!  

Extensively celebrated for taking metal music into the mainstream music industry, Chester Bennington was a legendary singer. Bennington is most notably remembered for fronting the aught famous rock band, Linkin Park. Chester also headlined the critically-acclaimed bands, Grey Daze, Dead by Sunrise, and Stone Temple Pilots at various points in his career.  

Born on March 20, 1976, in Phoenix, Arizona, Chester's interest and subsequent venture in music started at an early age. But what was up until then a story of extraordinary talent and era-defining success turned tragic in July 2017. The metal vocalist had taken his own life at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California. On his sixth death anniversary, the world remembers the legend once again.  

Inside Chester Bennington's First Marriage!  

Bennington left behind an ex-wife, his second wife, and his six kids when he succumbed to depression in 2017. The Linkin Park frontman had only been married twice in his lifetime and fathered his six kids over three relationships. Not much is covered about Chester's first marriage, which ceased before his band rose to its pinnacle.   

The Starting to Fly hitmaker married his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit, a life coach, in October 1996, and welcomed a son with her in 2002. The couple finalized their divorce in 2005. Bennington's first nuptials went largely unnoticed when he was alive but Samantha made sure that she tells the world their story after the singer's death.  

In her memoir, Falling Love Notes: Memories of a Rock Star Wife, which Samantha claims she began working on years after their divorce, unveiled the duo's previously wrapped journey. In the book, Samantha recalls meeting her rockstar husband at one of his shows with Grey Daze at Club Rio in Tempe, Ariz. in January 1996.    

Samantha was in the midst of an ongoing divorce from her first husband when she delved into a relationship with Chester. The pair's romance turned whirlwind as the two walked down the aisle within months of knowing each other. The Linkin Park frontman once said that his first divorce took a toll on him, but it still was the best thing that ever happened to him.  

Alluding to a strained relationship with Samantha, Benington said, "Looking back at my first marriage, I don't know how or why we stayed together as long as we did." Chester's ex-wife and their son weren't included in the singer's funeral and post-funeral-services in 2017, which had Samantha lashing out at Chester's second wife, Talinda Ann Bentley.  

Chester Bennington's Second Marriage!  

Following his divorce from Samantha in 2005, Chester found love again and quite swiftly. The Numb hitmaker started another whirlwind relationship with former Playboy model Talinda Ann Bentley in 2005. Although many reports have suggested that the pair's relationship began as an illicit affair in 2004.   

The couple quietly tied the knot in 2006 and welcomed three kids together. For Bennington's legion of fans, Talinda is the woman who tried to save him from his demons. The late singer credited Talinda for being his safe haven and gave a tribute to her in his 2005 hitmaker, Give Me Your Name.   

Bennington's widow, Talinda, reflects on the grim day her husband died! 

"When I met Talinda, I knew she was the one pretty instantly," the Dead By Sunrise frontman said. He added, "She moved into my place after a week and a half or something like that." But even Talinda's ocean of love and strenuous effort couldn't save the doomed genius.  

Meet Chester Bennington's Six Children!  

Bennington is survived by his widow Talinda, who married a firefighter, Michael Friedman in 2020, and divorced him a year later, and his six kids, who are all in different walks of their lives. Chester became a father for the first time in 1996 when he welcomed his firstborn, Jaime, with his then-girlfriend, Elka Brand.   

The Soul Song hitmaker adopted his second kid, Isaiah, who according to some reports is the son of his ex-girlfriend, Elka. Bennington had one kid, his third one, Draven, from his first marriage with Samantha. He welcomed his youngest three, Tyler, Lila, and Lily, with his second wife, Talinda.  

The Linkin Park frontman's oldest son, Jaime, is a musician himself. But it is not known if Jaime is fully interested in carving a career in music as the firstborn Bennington has also dabbled in the film business. Chester's adopted son, Isaiah, has been out of the spotlight, and his father's shadow all his life.  

The third of Chester's brood, Draven, is a member of the musical group named Reverand. Draven was caught by the media when his father died by suicide. The talented musician is now an ardent advocate of suicide awareness and mental health. Chester's son, Tyler, is only 17, but already a competent adult in the making.   

Tyler has been an active advocate for raising awareness of depression and suicides. Tyler's younger siblings, twins Lila, and Lily, aged only 11, were only six when their father took his life. The late singer loved his all kids equally and it was proved when in his will, Chester left all of his estates and possessions to Talinda and his six kids.  

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