Brandi Carlile brought the house down at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 8, delivering a powerful tribute to Soundgarden and the late Chris Cornell, a moment that hit especially close to home for the Grammy-winning singer.
Brandi Carlile attends the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for RRHOF)
Brandi Carlile talks to entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno ahead of her Soundgarden tribute.
Before taking the stage, Carlile caught up with entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno to share how the legendary grunge band helped shape her musical identity and why paying homage to Cornell felt deeply personal.
“Oh, well, Soundgarden is a huge part of my story,” she said. “I’m born and raised and live in Seattle, so growing up, they were just the coolest and one of the most musically complex rock and roll bands to come out of Seattle. Not to mention they had an absolute rock star singer who could sing from the floor to the ceiling.”
(L-R) Brandi Carlile and Hiro Yamamoto perform onstage during the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for RRHOF)
(L-R) Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile perform onstage during the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for RRHOF)
Carlile, who grew up in Ravensdale, Washington, just outside of Seattle, reflected on Cornell’s unmatched voice, noting, “One of the interesting things I’ve seen since sweet Chris left us is that a lot of the people that have been able to adequately tribute Chris have been women, because it’s so difficult to sing him. And I think that’s really saying something. I think he would get a real kick out of that.”
The Soundgarden frontman’s daughter, Toni Cornell, performed an acoustic version of the song “Fell on Black Days” with Heart’s Nancy Wilson on guitar.
RELATED: Chris Cornell’s daughter honors father at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: ‘I wish he was here’
The tribute also marks a new creative chapter for Carlile after focusing on solo projects. In October, the singer released her first solo album in four years called “Returning to Myself,” after primarily working on collaborations in the past.
“I’m always going to collaborate, it’s who I am. I don’t even like to eat dinner alone,” she laughed. “But every once in a while, I have to take a break and make sure I’m standing on my own two feet.”
And when asked who’s next on her collaboration list, Carlile grinned, “Well, Soundgarden tonight.” For Carlile, the performance wasn’t just a tribute, it was a love letter to Seattle’s sound and soul.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony streams on Disney+, with a highlights special airing on ABC January 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.