Culture
Taylor Momsen talks Madonna and Soundgarden collabs, Jim Carrey Grinch “kismet” Rock Hall reunion
By: Ian Saint
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LOS ANGELES, California (WOUB) — When watching Cindy Lou Who gallivant around Whoville in 2000’s Christmas box office smash How the Grinch Stole Christmas, it might be hard to imagine the wee actress growing up to rock stadiums around the globe with AC/DC. But 25 years later, Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless are supporting AC/DC’s PWR/UP Tour, which plays Columbus’ Ohio Stadium (411 Woody Hayes Dr.) July 15.
Today, Momsen is bridging the wide gap between her Grinch launch to stardom at age 7 with her raucous rock ‘n roll bandleader present. Grinch actor Jim Carrey inducted Soundgarden to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last month; and Momsen sang Rusty Cage in Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell’s stead, then backed Brandi Carlile on Black Hole Sun. The Pretty Reckless were on tour with Soundgarden in 2017 when Cornell died by suicide hours after their Detroit show. Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil and drummer Matt Cameron subsequently backed The Pretty Reckless on their 2021 single, Only Love Can Save Me Now.
Before reuniting with Carrey and performing with Soundgarden, Momsen spoke to WOUB’s Ian Saint on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony’s red carpet in Los Angeles. A transcript of their conversation, edited for length and clarity, is below.
IAN SAINT: I told your publicist that the first person I think of when I see you with the Rock Hall is Madonna, because of the modeling campaign you did with Madonna’s H&M fashion line shortly after her 2008 induction.
TAYLOR MOMSEN: Yeah, Material Girl.
What was it like to collaborate on Material Girl, named after Madonna’s seminal music video evoking Marilyn Monroe, with the “Material Girl” herself?
MOMSEN: Madonna is f***ing badass, man. We were shooting the campaign and they had a photographer… (Madonna) showed up to the set and went, “No, this is all wrong.” She took complete control. She had such a vision for it. She took the camera; I think she took half the pictures herself. It was awesome.
Below is behind-the-scenes footage of Madonna working on Momsen’s photo shoot, which reveals Cornell’s music often blared in the background.
You’re performing with Soundgarden’s surviving members. Something about Chris Cornell that I think is underrated, perhaps because his singing was so outstanding, was his guitar abilities.
MOMSEN: Ridiculous (guitar talent).
What are your favorite Chris songs from a guitar perspective?
MOMSEN: Oh, man, so many. I don’t know how to pick one; but for tonight, I’ll say Rusty Cage. It’s just baffling. He’s unlike anyone else in every way, shape, or form. What a force.
What are your favorite Cornell songs to sing?
MOMSEN: I love singing all of them, honestly. I am always a student of Chris Cornell; I’ve studied his vocals and those records my whole life, and it’s everything I love in music.
Jim Carrey is inducting Soundgarden. You and he, of course, co-starred in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
MOMSEN: Yes, we did.
I can’t believe the much-heralded new millennium is a quarter-century old…
MOMSEN: It’s insane, right? The whole thing is so surreal; the fact that he’s introducing Soundgarden tonight. I haven’t seen him in 25 years.
Really?
MOMSEN: No BS, it’s been that long. I haven’t seen him since we did the film. We just released a Christmas record called Taylor Momsen’s Pretty Reckless Christmas, where I duet the Where Are You Christmas? song from the film with my six-year-old self. The whole thing is so kismet and bizarre and absolutely incredible, and I’m so excited to see Jim with an adult mind.
For The Pretty Reckless tour dates and tickets, visit their official website. The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is available for streaming on Disney+, and a primetime special of program highlights will air on ABC at 8 p.m. Eastern on New Year’s Day.
