Chris Cornell honored with moment of silence at Billboard Music Awards

May 22 (UPI) -- Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell was remembered Sunday with a moment of silence during the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.

The tribute, lead by Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, comes after Cornell died Wednesday after committing suicide at the age of 52.

"Although tonight is a night to celebrate the music and artists of the past year, it's also a time to recall a member of our community we lost this past week. Soundgarden and Audioslave's Chris Cornell was a true innovator, a musical architect and a pioneer on the cutting edge of the Seattle grunge movement," Reynolds said onstage.

"He was a prolific songwriter, a legendary performer, a singer who had a voice for the ages, and a philanthropist whose Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation helped so many children around the world," he continued. "Even though Chris is gone, his legacy endures. We send our respects, as well as our love to Chris' family at this time."

Pictures of Cornell were then displayed onstage during the moment of silence.

Cornell was found dead inside his Detroit hotel room after Soundgarden had performed at a sold-out concert. "The cause of death has been determined as hanging by suicide. A full autopsy report has not yet been completed," the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office said in a statement. He is survived by his wife Vicky and three children.