21-year-old Toni Cornell just gave the most heartbreaking Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performance singing for her late father, Soundgarden legend Chris Cornell. At her performance for Soundgarden’s induction on November 8, 2025, fans marveled at her smoky, distinctive voice on “Fell on Black Days.” Clearly the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree! Viewers were also impressed with Toni’s ability to sing her father’s heartrending lyrics on the song without breaking down on stage.
Rather than attempting to replicate Soundgarden’s monstrous groove, Toni took “Fell on Black Days” in a more intimate direction, with just an acoustic guitar and cello for accompaniment. It was a smart choice, as the haunting arrangement really highlighted Chris’s brilliant lyrics in the song. How much Toni resembles her father adds another layer of poignance to the performance. The Music Man sure loves to see Chris Cornell’s legacy being celebrated in such a beautiful way.
Viewers gave plenty of props for Toni’s performance, adding comments such as “To have the strength to sing THIS song without breaking down crying right then and there, unfathomable. Excellent performance. RIP to a true legend” and “Her father would be proud. That was special.”
Toni has gone viral a number of times for her performances. Her most special performance surely remains her duet with her dad on Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” at his solo performance at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. She was just 11 years old at the time, but delivered such soulful vocals. The way she looks at her dad throughout is just too cute. The Music Man gives some major props to the way that Chris takes the backing vocal layer on the performance to let Toni really shine.
Soundgarden were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the 2025 event by Jim Carrey. There were a total of three Soundgarden songs performed at the event, with one from Toni and two songs performed by the reunited band’s surviving members. Soundgarden have only made a handful of performances since Chris Cornell’s death at age 52 on May 18, 2017, which made this event particularly meaningful for fans. At the induction event, the band performed “Rusty Cage” with Taylor Momsen on vocals, and “Black Hole Sun” with Taylor and Brandi Carlile singing.