Taylor Momsen Says She’s Open To Touring With Soundgarden After Emotional Rock Hall Performance

Soundgarden’s recent Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction was always going to stir deep emotion, but Taylor Momsen’s involvement added a whole new weight to the night.

Filling in for the late Chris Cornell alongside Brandi Carlile, the Pretty Reckless vocalist stepped into the moment with a mix of reverence, gratitude and sheer disbelief, feelings she unpacked in a new interview on the Zach Sang Show.

For Momsen, the experience bordered on overwhelming. “First of all, I don’t know if you guys know but I love Soundgarden,” she joked. “I don’t know if you’ve heard this about me [laughs]. So, to be there with them and to help them celebrate, and I’m so honored and thankful and so prideful for them. Like, I am so proud of them and so happy for them that I cannot even put it into words.”

Her respect for Cornell’s legacy loomed large throughout the ceremony. “The whole evening was insane and emotional, and the weight of it was certainly not lost on me at all,” she said. “But, it was beautiful and it’s so well deserved.”

Not the first time

This wasn’t the first time Momsen has performed with Soundgarden, she’s joined them several times since Cornell’s passing, including the massive 2019 tribute concert.

So, when asked whether she’d ever consider joining the band for a reunion tour, she didn’t hesitate to keep the door wide open.

“I think that they are a force unto themselves that is unlike anyone else,” she said. “They are some of my closest friends. I love them to death. And the reality is I’m here for anything they want or need. Like if they call me, I’m there. It’s that simple.”

The night also served up an unexpected full-circle moment, Soundgarden were inducted by Jim Carrey, Momsen’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas co-star. “I haven’t seen Jim in 25 years,” she said, still stunned.
“His favorite band is Soundgarden. My favorite band is Soundgarden… It’s all the universe.”

While there’s no formal plan for Soundgarden to tour again, Momsen’s openness, grounded in long standing friendship and deep artistic connection, makes the idea more real than ever.