Jim Carrey Inducts Soundgarden Into Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Honours Chris Cornell’s Legacy

Jim Carrey has inducted Soundgarden into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, celebrating their legacy and Chris Cornell’s enduring impact.

Soundgarden have officially been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, marking a long-awaited recognition for one of Seattle’s defining rock bands. The induction ceremony, held on Saturday, celebrated the group’s legacy with emotional tributes, standout performances, and words from those who knew them best.

Jim Carrey introduced the band during the ceremony, sharing a personal connection that dates back to a 1996 episode of Saturday Night Live, where he hosted and insisted Soundgarden perform. “When the Seattle music scene exploded, it resurrected rock & roll for me,” Carrey told the crowd. He revealed that he was later gifted Chris Cornell’s Fender Telecaster, calling it his most prized possession.

The evening was filled with nods to Soundgarden’s history and to Cornell’s influence. Lily Cornell, Chris’s daughter, reflected on her father’s love of collaboration, saying, “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.”

The musical tribute leaned heavily into the Seattle roots that shaped Soundgarden’s sound. Surviving members of the band were joined by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell, Brandi Carlile, and Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless for powerful renditions of ‘Rusty Cage’ and ‘Black Hole Sun’.

Each member of Soundgarden took the mic for their own speech. Original bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who left the band in 1989, paid tribute to Cornell and offered encouragement to young musicians: “Chris Cornell, we are so missing you tonight on this stage. To everyone else out there – especially all you brown kids – let’s rock!”

The ceremony closed with an intimate performance of ‘Fell on Black Days’ by Cornell’s daughter Toni, joined by Heart’s Nancy Wilson. Toni said the performance was inspired by her father’s stripped-back Songbook tour, explaining, “I was always really touched by just him and his voice, his guitar, and eventually with a cellist.”

Ahead of Soundgarden’s induction, drummer Matt Cameron reflected on Cornell’s constant evolution as a songwriter and performer. “He was always seeking that next phase of his writing career, performing career,” Cameron said. “Maybe down the line he will get recognised as a solo artist or [for] Temple of the Dog or something like that because his contribution to music has been absolutely massive.”