Emily Armstrong has opened up about the pressure of stepping into one of rock music’s most closely watched roles.
The Linkin Park singer told PEOPLE that she initially questioned whether she was capable of performing some of the band’s most famous songs, a challenge explored in the new documentary Unshatter.
Armstrong faced a daunting catalog
Armstrong joined Linkin Park in 2024, years after the death of longtime frontman Chester Bennington. That meant learning songs whose original performances remain deeply important to generations of fans.
Rather than trying to imitate Bennington, Armstrong said her goal was to preserve the emotional impact of songs such as In the End, What I’ve Done and Crawling while finding a delivery that felt authentic to her own voice.
How the band rebuilt its live sound
New drummer Colin Brittain said he and Armstrong spent months working through the catalog, sometimes changing keys until the songs felt natural without losing their original energy. Linkin Park’s Joe Hahn also emphasized that the band wanted Armstrong to sing the material in her own way.
The documentary follows the group’s return to the stage and the process of integrating Armstrong and Brittain into a band with a long history and an intensely loyal audience.
Armstrong said the opportunity was something she never expected and described herself as grateful to be part of Linkin Park’s new chapter.