READ MORE: Chris Cornell songs: the best by the Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman.
The grunge icons have rarely performed live since the tragic death of Chris Cornell in 2017. They came together for a tribute show for the singer in 2019, again in 2021 when they performed with Brandi Carlile, and again in 2024 at a benefit event where they were fronted temporarily by Shaina Shepherd.
Last summer, Cornell’s former bandmates and other veteran rock musicians came together to form a supergroup called King Ultramega for charity, and proceeds made from their performance were donated to the MusiCares organisation.
At the end of 2025, Soundgarden were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the surviving members playing live at the event alongside Cornell’s daughter, Lily.
Now, they are set to perform live again, signing on as the halftime show performers at the NFL’s season opener.
The confirmation comes as the pre-season games are already underway, and Soundgarden’s hometown team the Seattle Seahawks are set to go head to head with the New England Patriots next month.
That game will see the Seahawks, who are the current NFL champions, kick off the season opener at Seattle’s Lumen Field on September 9.
Guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd, and drummer Matt Cameron will take to the stage for the high-profile halftime show – performing under the Soundgarden name and enlisting The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen as vocalist.
The singer is a lifelong fan of Chris Cornell and Soundgarden, and served as opening act on the band’s final tour prior to Cornell’s death. She was also present at their induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and also joined them for the emotional tribute show held in Cornell’s memory.
Also joining the line-up for the one-off show is guitarist Mike McCready – who is also in Pearl Jam alongside Matt Cameron – and also performed at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, playing ‘Rusty Cage’ on the night with the surviving members.
The game will be shown on NBC and Peacock on September 9, although it isn’t yet confirmed whether or not the halftime show will be aired. Ahead of the game, McCready will also perform the National Anthem at the stadium.
In other Soundgarden news, back in May the band marked the eight-year anniversary of Cornell’s passing by hinting that they were working on a record of songs that they had written in the period leading up to the singer’s death.
That followed on from initial reports in 2023 that the band had settled a legal dispute with Cornell’s estate that included the rights to several unreleased songs, and since then, they have suggested that they are “pretty close” to finishing the record and currently getting it mixed and ready for release.
Over the spring, Shepherd spoke about the power of hearing Cornell’s vocals being brought back to life on the album, and Cameron made similar comments in September, saying that it was “the most empowering thing in the world for me”.
Since then, Taylor Momsen has shared her love of Cornell again with NME, and remained tight lipped about whether or not she had heard the album. “Oh, man, I don’t think that’s my place to talk about.
But what I will say though is that I love those guys. I’m so excited and proud of them and everything that they are doing, and just stay tuned.”.
She continued to share her admiration for the late singer: “Chris Cornell’s work speaks to me on a level that nothing else does. When something touches you that way, it’s hard to put into words just exactly why.
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