Cole has been married three times. The product of her marriage to Marvin Yancy is her son Robert Yancy, born in 1977; he's a musician who tours with her. She later married former Rufus drummer Andre Fischer, who co-produced her album Unforgettable... With Love.

In 2000, Cole released an autobiography, Angel on My Shoulder, which described her battle with drugs during much of her life.

In concert with the release of the book, her autobiography was turned into a made-for-TV movie, The Natalie Cole Story, which aired December 10, 2000 on NBC.

On July 16, 2008 Cole announced that she was diagnosed with hepatitis C likely caused by her drug use: "I've been so fortunate to have learned so much from my past experiences. I am embraced by the love and support of my family and friends; I am committed to my belief in myself and in my abiding faith to meet this challenge with a heartfelt optimism and determination. This is how I intend to deal Read more...