Chris Cornell Flies High With Airline

Chris Cornell's solo career is soaring, sort of. The veteran singer has partnered with Virgin America airlines to launch what might be the first ever alliance between an artist and a commercial airline. In doing so, Cornell's music will be featured on all flights throughout the entire Virgin America fleet beginning this October. In addition, the recent Timbaland collaborator has signed on for promotional radio contests and performances.

Virgin America will in turn add Cornell's latest disc, 'Scream', to its music library and play select tunes as passengers board their respective flights. Then, starting Nov. 1, passengers will also be able to experience various albums and music videos from the one-time Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog frontman. Through the partnership with Cornell, Virgin America's marketing department is touting its "state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment system."

While there's no word on whether passengers who were turned off by the radical pop departure of 'Scream' can opt out of the Cornell experience, the allegiance between both parties seems ironclad and gets underway Sept. 12 when Cornell headlines the second annual Virgin America-sponsored Sunset Strip Music Festival in Los Angeles. In advance of the performance, Cornell will appear on 'The Tonight Show With Conan O' Brien.'