Chester Bennington left behind a family when he tragically passed away. His children, who were quite young then, have since grown into young adults. Take a look at the rocker’s kids today.
As the frontman of Linkin Park, Chester Bennington was an iconic figure in rock music. The band, formed in 1996, featured fellow members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, Dave Farrell, and later Colin Brittain.
Together, they created timeless hits that continue to inspire fans worldwide. Sadly, Chester tragically passed away in July 2017 at 41. According to the Los Angeles County Coroner, it was an apparent suicide, with his body found in a private residence in the area.
Years after his demise, the rock band recently introduced their newest member during a live performance — Emily Armstrong, the talented lead vocalist from Dead Sara band.
Her introduction to the fans also allowed the band to release their latest single, “The Emptiness Machine.” This is the band’s first music release since Chester’s death, and it’s the lead single for their upcoming album “From Zero.”
After the announcement, fans took to social media to share their excitement about Emily joining the band. Many praised her as the ideal fit for the group, expressing their enthusiasm for what she will bring to the music moving forward.
“Emily Armstrong is actually a pretty great choice as a new vocalist for Linkin Park. I was a bit skeptical on Linkin Park adding a female vocalist,” said one person in part.
Another echoed, “She is incredible!” One individual praised the singer-songwriter who co-founded Dead Sara, writing, “She absolutely crushed it here! New single sounds great too, she’s the perfect fit!”
Seven years have passed since Chester’s death, and while he was an incredible rock star, he was also deeply devoted to his family. He once gushed about his kids on X, writing, “I have the cutest kids ever.”
The Arizona native had four biological children. He had two sons, Draven and Tyler, and twin daughters, Lila and Lily Bennington. In a May 2023 interview, the rocker’s oldest child recalled fond memories of them together.
“One of our biggest things that we would do together [was] to go rock climbing. And it would be me and my little brother, Tyler, and that would usually be our thing,” Draven revealed.
The now-22-year-old shared that they would occasionally visit Hangar 18 for rock climbing, describing it as one of their favorite activities together. Draven, Chester’s only child with his first wife, Samantha Marie Olit, humorously mentioned that he and his siblings all share their father’s big ears.
Reflecting on his relationship with twin sisters, brother Tyler, and older step-brothers Isaiah and Jaime, Draven expressed gratitude for their closeness. “We’ve always had a great bond,” he said, noting that he’s particularly close to his younger siblings due to their similar ages.
Inspired by his father’s creativity, Draven dabbles in fashion and music. He admires how his dad personalized his style, saying, “He wanted to wear something that nobody else had and so he would make those customizations himself.”
Apart from being close to his siblings, Draven, who sees himself as an artist, a musician, and an actor, as written on his Instagram bio, also shows deep affection for his mother.
He paid a birthday tribute to her in December 2021 and called her the best parent in the world. Draven had shared a picture of them smiling and added, “I love you so much, and thank you for sacrificing your milestone for my career!”
Meanwhile, Chester’s second oldest child, Tyler, turned 18 in March 2024. His mother, Talinda Bennington, marked his special day on Instagram via a montage filled with childhood photos.
She praised her son for his resilience and the positive impact he’s had on his community, especially regarding mental health, following the loss of his father. Talinda also expressed pride in Tyler’s role as a brother, highlighting the deep love he’s shown his twin siblings.
Additionally, she admired his artistic talent and celebrated his college acceptance achievements, writing, “It’s thrilling watching College Acceptance letters roll in daily for you. Wherever you choose to go, they will be a better place for it.”
In June 2024, Talinda proudly announced that Tyler graduated from high school. Instagram followers have since compared the youngster with his late dad. One wrote, “His father’s twin.” Another added, “Just like Chester.”
Talinda has also proudly shared glimpses of the couple’s youngest children, twins Lila and Lily, on social media. In May 2019, she shared a photo of them as babies and one from when they were seven years old.
The following year, in October 2020, Talinda posted a side-by-side photo of the girls, expressing her joy and gratitude by stating, “I’m the luckiest woman alive because I am their Momma.”
Her followers gushed over them, with one commenting, “They are so cute.” Another observed, “Omg!!! They have grown so much. Beautiful girls.”
One person mentioned the twins are a blend of both Talinda and Chester, penning, “WOW they are so pretty. They do look like a Minnie Talinda and a Minnie Chester, that’s really sweet too. Love you all and I support all of you.”
Lila and Lily are now 12 years old. In June 2023, their mother shared a throwback collage of them, capturing their first and last days of elementary school. She reflected on their journey, celebrating their accomplishments “from learning to read and write to receiving the Presidential Outstanding Academic Award.”
Talinda, who was married to Chester from 2005 until his death, expressed her love for her daughters and her excitement for their next chapter, saying she couldn’t wait to watch them conquer middle school.
Chester’s legacy continues to live on through his music and the family he cherished deeply. His children, each forging their own paths, carry forward his creativity, resilience, and love.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
