Toni Cornell performed “Fell on Black Days” at Soundgarden’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction on November 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The 21-year-old singer shared the stage with Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson to pay tribute to her late father, Chris Cornell. In an Instagram post on November 11, Toni expressed her feelings about the performance, saying, “Performing ‘Fell on Black Days’ was one of the greatest honors of my life, and one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. My dad’s absence is always felt, but singing his songs always makes me feel closer to him.”
Toni also reminisced about watching Soundgarden reunite in 2010. She was just six years old when the band got back together after a long break. “I’ll never forget walking into Soundgarden’s reunion show with my brother, my American Girl doll in tow, and seeing my dad step onstage again after more than a decade,” she recalled. “I might have been too young to understand the magnitude of this moment, but I still knew I was witnessing something extraordinary.”
Toni shared how being on the road with Soundgarden influenced her life. “Being on the road for years and experiencing Soundgarden shaped me, not just as ‘Chris’s daughter,’ but as an artist and a person,” she said. “I would hear people tell my dad his music saved them, and seeing that legacy honored, I understand just how true that was.”
The surviving members of Soundgarden—Hiro Yamamoto, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd—were present for the induction. Actor Jim Carrey inducted the band. Mike McCready from Pearl Jam and Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains performed “Black Hole Sun” alongside vocalists Brandi Carlile and Taylor Momsen. The ceremony was streamed on Disney+, and ABC will air a highlights special on January 1.
