Amanda Kloots Says She and Son Elvis Remember Nick Cordero Every Day By Saying 'Goodnight to Dad'

Amanda Kloots Says She and Son Elvis Remember Nick Cordero Every Day By Saying 'Goodnight to Dad' Amanda Kloots opens up about how she honors her husband, Broadway star Nick Cordero, who

died of COVID-19 in July

Mia McNiece joined PEOPLE in 2010 and is currently the Senior Movies Editor.

People Editorial GuidelinesPublished on October 21, 2020 08:00AM EDT It's been three months since Broadway star Nick Cordero died from complications of COVID-19 at 41 years of age, and his

wife Amanda Kloots is opening up about the ways in which she honors her late husband every day.

Kloots, 38, and her 16-month-old son, Elvis, often start their mornings by playing some of Cordero's music and every night, before bed, they look at photos of him.

"We say goodnight to Dad and give Nick a kiss," Kloots tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story, on stands Friday.

In late March, the Broadway star was diagnosed with COVID-19 and spent 95 days in the hospital, 42 of them in a medically induced coma. He developed a lung infection and septic shock and had

to have his right leg amputated. After more than three months of fighting for his life, Cordero died on July 5.

Amanda Kloots Celebrates What Would've Been Husband Nick Cordero's 42nd Birthday 2 Months After His Death For more on Amanda Kloots, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE on newsstands Friday

Kloots says even in her darkest times, it's her son who always cheers her up.

"Anytime I'm sad, he brightens my mood in two seconds," she says. "He looks at me with his big smile and his little teeth, and I'm instantly transported into a different mood."

The fitness instructor and founder of AK! Fitness says she already sees the similarities between her husband and her son. "Elvis is just calm and cool. He gets along with everybody. I think

that's very much Nick," she says.

Amanda Kloots and son Elvis.Mike Rosenthal Her home is filled with mementos of Cordero — a rug in the living room has the title of Cordero's song "Live Your Life" on it; a painting of the

family, made by one of Kloots's Instagram followers, hangs on the wall, and a pillow on the couch is covered in printed photos of him.

Kloots says she feels Cordero's positive energy watching over them.

"We have this beautiful little boy that we created together," says Kloots. "I love watching him grow, and I know Nick is watching him too."

Watch the full episode of People Cover Story: Amanda Kloots streaming now on PeopleTV.com, or download the PeopleTV app on your favorite device.

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