When Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington performed “One More Light” in honor of his late friend Chris Cornell, no one could have imagined that just two months later, he would also be gone. This performance, aired on Jimmy Kimmel Live, now stands as one of Bennington’s most deeply personal and emotional moments.
Singing just one day after Cornell’s passing, Bennington’s voice was filled with sorrow and raw emotion. You can hear the pain in every note, especially during the powerful scream at 3:47, a moment that many fans say gives them chills. His voice cracks as he sings, making the song’s message even more heartbreaking.
Fans quickly recognized the significance of this performance, sharing their emotions in the comments. One wrote, “That scream for ‘I do’ is one of the most emotionally packed sounds I’ve ever heard. Almost haunting. I miss Chester more every time I hear it.” Another added, “The pain in his voice. Goosebumps every time I hear this live version. RIP Chester.”
Bennington also performed “One More Light” at the Rock Werchter festival in Belgium in 2017. He walked deep into the crowd, reaching out to fans as if he wanted to connect with them one last time.
The song “One More Light” was released as the third single from Linkin Park’s One More Light album, which came out on May 19, 2017—just two months before Bennington’s passing. Band member Mike Shinoda co-wrote the song with Eg White, explaining that the lyrics were inspired by the loss of a friend. Shinoda shared, “In those moments, the most important thing to do is connect with the people you love and remind them you care about them.”
Linkin Park decided to name the album after “One More Light” because they felt it was the heart of the record. Today, it remains one of the band’s most powerful songs, carrying even more meaning as a reminder of Bennington’s immense talent and the deep emotions he poured into his music.
