The Soundgarden Rock Hall induction brought Seattle’s grunge legends into music’s most prestigious pantheon.
On November 8, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, surviving band members received their long-awaited honor.
The emotional ceremony featured all-star performances and heartfelt tributes to late frontman Chris Cornell.
Actor Jim Carrey inducted the band, sharing personal memories from their 1996 Saturday Night Live appearance together.
Seattle’s rock community rallied around this moment, with performances by Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Heart members.
Cornell’s daughter Toni delivered a tearful performance that left not a dry eye in the house.
Image credit: Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty Images
📚 Table of Contents
🎭 Jim Carrey’s Heartfelt Induction Speech
Jim Carrey brought humor and heart to the Soundgarden Rock Hall induction ceremony.
The comedian revealed how the Seattle music scene resurrected rock and roll for him.
He insisted Soundgarden be the musical guest when he hosted Saturday Night Live in 1996.
After that legendary SNL performance, the band gifted Carrey a Fender Telecaster signed by all members.
Carrey described standing in front of the band during their performance of “Pretty Noose.”
He called the experience an “audio baptism” that left him forever changed.
“When I heard Soundgarden for the first time, I wanted to put a flannel shirt on,” Carrey told the crowd.
His speech perfectly captured the raw power that made the band legendary.
The inducted guitarist’s Telecaster remains one of Carrey’s most prized possessions to this day.
He declared them one of the most majestic and powerful bands in rock history.
His closing words rang through the Peacock Theater: “Long live Chris Cornell, and long live Soundgarden!”
🎸 Seattle All-Stars Unite for Epic Performance
The Soundgarden Rock Hall induction featured a Seattle-centric performance that honored the band’s roots.
Drummer Matt Cameron had promised to keep the performances authentically Seattle-focused.
Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless opened with a powerful rendition of “Rusty Cage.”
The singer had toured with Soundgarden on their final tour before Cornell’s 2017 death.
Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready joined on guitar, bringing his signature Seattle sound.
Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell added his heavy riffs to the mix.
Brandi Carlile delivered an emotional performance of “Black Hole Sun.”
The Washington state native had released Soundgarden covers with the band in 2020.
She also performed at the 2019 Chris Cornell tribute concert in Los Angeles.
Original bassist Hiro Yamamoto reunited with the band for this special occasion.
The ensemble proved why Seattle remains the heart of classic rock music.
Guitarist Kim Thayil explained that having Seattle peers share this moment felt incredibly important.
💔 Toni Cornell’s Emotional Fell On Black Days
Toni Cornell brought the entire theater to tears with her stunning tribute performance.
The 21-year-old singer took the stage with Heart’s Nancy Wilson on acoustic guitar.
They performed a heart-wrenching acoustic version of “Fell on Black Days” from Superunknown.
Nancy Wilson had been inducted into the Rock Hall by Chris Cornell in 2013.
This full-circle moment added profound emotional weight to the Soundgarden Rock Hall induction ceremony.
Toni explained she wanted to channel how her dad performed the song acoustically.
She drew inspiration from Cornell’s Songbook tour from the early 2010s.
“I just wish he were here to see this tremendous honor,” Toni said backstage.
She called her father the only reason she pursues music at all.
Fans on social media called her voice “hauntingly beautiful” and praised her emotional power.
Many noted she carries the same vocal intensity that made her father legendary.
The performance perfectly honored Chris Cornell’s incredible legacy in classic rock artists history.
🎤 Band Members’ Acceptance Speeches
Each surviving Soundgarden member delivered powerful speeches during their Rock Hall induction moment.
Lily Cornell, Chris’s eldest daughter, spoke first about her father’s passion for making music with friends.
She emphasized that friendship and creative collaboration meant everything to him.
Guitarist Kim Thayil reflected on Cornell’s leadership and creative openness with the band.
“If one of us hesitated sharing an idea, Chris would say, ‘Let’s just try it,'” Thayil remembered.
He told the audience how much he misses and loves all his Soundgarden brothers.
Original bassist Hiro Yamamoto referenced his family’s World War II internment experience.
He urged everyone not to add similar stories to history.
Yamamoto addressed young people directly: “Especially all you brown kids, let’s rock!”
Matt Cameron expressed gratitude for being inducted twice into the Rock Hall.
He was previously inducted with Pearl Jam in 2017 at another Rock Hall ceremony.
Ben Shepherd spoke about the band’s journey and their unbreakable bond.
Their speeches captured decades of friendship, creativity, and musical brotherhood.
🏆 Soundgarden’s Lasting Impact on Classic Rock
The Soundgarden Rock Hall induction recognizes their massive influence on modern rock music.
They pioneered the Seattle grunge movement alongside Nirvana and Pearl Jam in the late 1980s.
Their 1994 album Superunknown redefined what alternative rock could achieve commercially and artistically.
“Black Hole Sun” merged Beatles-esque melody with heavy metal riffage and dark poetry.
The band’s use of alternate tunings and offbeat time signatures influenced countless musicians.
Chris Cornell’s four-octave vocal range set a new standard for rock singers.
They proved heavy music could be both intelligent and commercially successful.
The Rock Hall biography notes they paved the way for Nirvana and Pearl Jam’s mainstream success.
Their groundwork proved essential for hard rock and metal bands across generations.
Projects like Temple of the Dog showcased Cornell’s collaborative spirit and influence.
The band’s legacy continues resonating with new generations discovering them on streaming platforms.
On TikTok, Soundgarden videos reach millions with messages of resilience and raw emotion.
📜 Why Did Soundgarden Rock Hall Induction Take So Long
Soundgarden became eligible for Rock Hall consideration in 2012, a full 25 years after their debut.
They received their first nomination in 2020 but didn’t make the cut.
The band was nominated again in 2023, still without success.
Finally, on their third nomination in 2025, Soundgarden secured their induction.
They finished sixth in the fan vote with 233,205 votes from supporters worldwide.
Kim Thayil admitted he never saw Rock Hall induction as important during the 1980s and 1990s.
His perspective changed after Chris Cornell inducted Heart in 2013.
Cornell convinced his bandmates that the honor matters deeply to fans.
Nirvana was inducted in 2014, just their first year of eligibility.
Pearl Jam followed in 2017, relatively quickly after becoming eligible.
Alice in Chains remains the only major Seattle grunge band not yet nominated.
The Soundgarden Rock Hall induction completes three-quarters of grunge’s Mount Rushmore.
The 2025 class also included The White Stripes, OutKast, Cyndi Lauper, and Bad Company.
🎸 ESSENTIAL SOUNDGARDEN COLLECTION 🎸
Celebrate the Rock Hall Inductees with These Legendary Albums
🎵 Superunknown (Vinyl)
The masterpiece that defined grunge’s peak.
Features “Fell on Black Days” and “Black Hole Sun.”
Remastered 2LP edition on 200-gram vinyl.
Essential for any classic rock collection.
The album that earned Soundgarden their Rock Hall induction.
🎤 Badmotorfinger (Vinyl)
The album that put Soundgarden on the map.
Features “Rusty Cage” performed at the Rock Hall ceremony.
Raw Seattle sound that defined early grunge.
Showcases the band’s heavy riffing style.
A must-have for understanding their evolution.
🎼 Down on the Upside
Soundgarden’s final studio album before their breakup.
Darker and more experimental than previous work.
Shows the band pushing creative boundaries.
Features deeper cuts beloved by hardcore fans.
Complete the essential Soundgarden discography.
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The Soundgarden Rock Hall Induction: A Bittersweet Victory
The Soundgarden Rock Hall induction ceremony celebrated one of classic rock’s most influential bands.
Their third nomination finally resulted in the recognition they deserved for decades.
The November 8, 2025 ceremony honored both the band’s legacy and Chris Cornell’s memory.
Seattle’s rock community came together in a powerful display of brotherhood and respect.
Toni Cornell’s performance proved her father’s musical spirit lives on through her.
Jim Carrey’s speech reminded everyone why Soundgarden matters to music history.
The all-star performances showcased the band’s enduring influence on classic rock artists everywhere.
While Cornell’s absence was deeply felt, his presence filled the theater through music and memory.
This historic moment cements Soundgarden’s place among rock and roll’s immortals.
The ceremony will air on ABC on January 1, 2025, bringing these emotional moments to millions.
Long live Chris Cornell, and long live Soundgarden.
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📚 Sources
- Louder Sound – Chris Cornell’s Daughter Sings Emotional Fell On Black Days
- Rolling Stone – Soundgarden Enlist Jim Carrey for Rock Hall Ceremony
- Ultimate Classic Rock – Soundgarden Rock Hall Performance
- Consequence – Soundgarden Perform with Taylor Momsen, Brandi Carlile
- Billboard – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Soundgarden Inducted by Jim Carrey
- Axios – Soundgarden Honor Chris Cornell During Rock Hall Induction
- ABC News – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees
- Parade – Chris Cornell’s Daughter Toni Brings Rock Hall to Tears
