On November 8, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, rock history witnessed a deeply emotional moment as grunge pioneers Soundgarden were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025. The ceremony, which also honored legendary acts like OutKast, Cyndi Lauper, and The White Stripes, was dominated by a poignant, tear-inducing tribute delivered by actor and long-time fan, Jim Carrey.
A Comedian’s Ode to Grunge’s Majesty
Carrey, known for his signature wit, opened his 10-minute speech with a playful, “Spank you kindly. Spank you all,” before questioning his place: “Was the Spoonman not available?” He quickly turned serious, framing Soundgarden’s rise in the early 1990s Seattle scene as a “resurrection” for rock music. The band, formed in 1984 by Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, and Hiro Yamamoto, fused crushing heavy metal riffs with psychedelic moods and the defiance of punk rock.
The induction was a solemn celebration of a band whose music gave voice to a generation’s angst. Their 1994 masterwork, Superunknown, cemented their global stardom, yielding colossal hits like “Spoonman,” “Fell on Black Days,” and the Grammy-winning, haunting masterpiece “Black Hole Sun.” The album became a commercial powerhouse, selling an estimated 9 million copies worldwide and achieving 6x Platinum status in the United States.
Data Point: The album Superunknown topped the Billboard 200 chart and earned the band two Grammy Awards: Best Metal Performance for the single “Spoonman” and Best Hard Rock Performance for “Black Hole Sun.”
Chris Cornell: The Voice of Eternity
The emotional core of Carrey’s induction focused on the late frontman, Chris Cornell, who tragically died in 2017 at the age of 52. Carrey described Cornell’s vocal talent—a remarkable four-octave range—as capable of making a listener’s “heart pound one moment and break the next.” He shared an intimate memory of his 1996 Saturday Night Live hosting gig, recalling his mesmerized state during a rehearsal of “Pretty Noose” and the personal gift he received from Cornell: a signed Fender Telecaster guitar, which he had proudly brought onstage for the tribute.
“When you looked into his eyes, it was like eternity was staring back,” Carrey stated, mourning the loss of a “monumental musical artist” whose post-Soundgarden work with Audioslave and the band’s 2010 reunion album, King Animal, further cemented his legacy.
Speeches and a Communal Performance
The surviving members—guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Hiro Yamamoto, and drummer Matt Cameron—took the stage, reflecting the band’s deep connection and creative risk-taking. Chris Cornell’s eldest daughter, Lily Cornell Silver, spoke first, expressing joy that her father “got to make music with his friends.”
The ceremony closed with a raw, communal performance that honored the band’s catalogue:
- “Rusty Cage” saw a powerful collaboration featuring Taylor Momsen and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready.
- Brandi Carlile and Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell joined the band for the iconic “Black Hole Sun.”
- The evening culminated with Cornell’s younger daughter, Toni Cornell, performing a moving, acoustic rendition of “Fell on Black Days,” a profound tribute that evoked shared grief and celebration.
Jim Carrey concluded his passionate speech with arms raised high, ensuring the world remembered the band’s monumental influence: “Long live Chris Cornell and long live Soundgarden.” Their induction not only enshrined their place among rock royalty but served as a powerful reminder of grunge’s enduring emotional resonance.
@rockhall “Long live Chris Cornell and long live Soundgarden” — Jim Carrey delivers a heartfelt tribute as he inducts Soundgarden into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 📺 Tune in NOW on @disneyplus to watch the 2025 Rock & Roll of Fame Induction Ceremony. #RockHall2025 #Soundgarden #JimCarrey #ChrisCornell