Watch: Touching Moment as Chris Cornell’s Daughter Pays Emotional Tribute to Her Father During Soundgarden’s Induction

Soundgarden’s Hall of Fame Celebration

Soundgarden was among seven artists honored in the Performer category at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, November 8, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Comic actor Jim Carrey and late frontman Chris Cornell’s eldest daughter, Lily Cornell, delivered speeches welcoming the Seattle grunge legends into the Hall of Fame.

The surviving core members—guitarist Kim Thayil, original bassist Hiro Yamamoto, drummer Matt Cameron, and longtime bassist Ben Shepherd—then reunited on stage for a powerful performance of Soundgarden classics “Rusty Cage” and “Black Hole Sun.” They were joined by Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on guitars, along with guest vocalists Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless and Brandi Carlile.

Toni Cornell’s Emotional Tribute

Following the band’s performances and acceptance speeches, the night took a deeply emotional turn. Chris Cornell’s younger daughter, 21-year-old Toni Cornell, performed an acoustic version of “Fell on Black Days” with Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson and cellist Adrienne Woods. As she sang, a large photo of her father was displayed on the screen behind her, filling the venue with heartfelt emotion. When the song ended, Toni blew a kiss toward Wilson, a touching gesture that moved the audience.

Like “Black Hole Sun,” the song “Fell on Black Days” was featured on Soundgarden’s 1994 chart-topping album Superunknown. Both songs were written solely by Chris Cornell, highlighting his depth as a songwriter and musician.

Remembering Chris Cornell and His Legacy

Toni Cornell has honored her father before. In January 2019, she performed at the “I Am the Highway” tribute concert, held at The Forum in Inglewood, California. During that show, she sang Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” with Ziggy Marley—a tune her father had often performed live with his daughter Lily. Chris Cornell died by suicide in 2017 at age 52, leaving behind a lasting musical legacy.

Lily Cornell’s Heartfelt Speech

Lily Cornell, Chris’s only child with his first wife and Soundgarden’s longtime manager Susan Silver, delivered a moving speech during the ceremony.

“I’m honored to be here to celebrate Soundgarden and my dad as a songwriter, musician and amazing singer,” Lily said. “And also to celebrate my mom, Susan Silver, who managed Soundgarden from 1986 into the 2000s. And she’s a major badass. This evening especially, I could not be prouder to be their daughter.”

She continued, “The band’s impact is of course massive, but growing up within the Seattle music community, what’s always been the most special part to me is that it comes from friends making music together, and then being able to turn that into a life. Seeing my dad not as a public figure, but as a person, a father, and someone who faced his struggles out loud, I am just really, really happy that he got to make music with his friends. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. I know how much purpose that gave him, and how much it’s meant to people who have heard that music. That’s what I’ll be holding in my heart tonight. Thank you all for honoring my dad, and for recognizing Soundgarden.”

About the 2025 Induction Ceremony

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony streamed live on Disney+ and ran for nearly four and a half hours. A highlights special will premiere on ABC on January 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET, followed by streaming availability on Hulu the next day.