National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame cemented another chapter in music history on Saturday, November 8, 2025, honoring a powerhouse lineup of artists whose songs have defined eras and transcended genres. Held at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, the annual induction ceremony balanced reverence with revelry; part memorial, part musical spectacle, as generations of performers shared the stage in celebration of rock’s evolving legacy.
This year’s inductees spanned more than six decades of music, from Chubby Checker’s early dance craze hits to Outkast’s futuristic hip-hop. The class of 2025 included Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes, alongside special recognitions for Warren Zevon, Carole Kaye, Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Lenny Waronker.
A Ceremony of Cross-Generational Tributes
The night opened with a thunderous medley from Soundgarden, honoring the late Chris Cornell with performances led by Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile. Cornell’s daughter, Toni Cornell, added a poignant touch with a rendition of “Black Hole Sun,” joined by Nancy Wilson on guitar. Actor Jim Carrey, who inducted the band, reflected on their impact with characteristic humor and heartfelt admiration: “They made despair sound like a revolution.”
Outkast’s induction became the night’s liveliest celebration. Introduced by Donald Glover, the duo’s medley featuring Big Boi, Janelle Monáe, JID, Doja Cat, Killer Mike, and Sleepy Brown, transformed the theater into a joyous Atlanta block party. Their set of “Hey Ya,” “Ms. Jackson,” and “Roses” reminded the audience why their innovation continues to shape hip-hop’s creative DNA.
Icons and Influences
Cyndi Lauper, inducted by pop upstart Chappell Roan, delivered one of the night’s emotional high points. Performing “Time After Time” with Avril Lavigne and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” alongside Raye and Salt-N-Pepa, Lauper reflected on her journey from 1980s MTV icon to feminist trailblazer. “Rock & roll,” she said, “was never about fitting in, it was about being loud enough to be heard.”
Bad Company were ushered in by Mick Fleetwood, and their blues-rock anthem “Can’t Get Enough” echoed through the theater with help from Nancy Wilson, Joe Perry, and Chris Robinson. Robinson later joined Bryan Adams, Teddy Swims, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band for a powerful Joe Cocker tribute, closing with “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
A special video tribute honored Chubby Checker, who accepted remotely, recalling how “The Twist” changed the dance floor and pop culture forever.
Remembering the Architects
Posthumous inductees were honored with understated grace. David Letterman introduced the tribute to Warren Zevon, whose cult-classic songwriting was celebrated in a moving performance by The Killers. Video segments also paid homage to session legends Carole Kaye and Nicky Hopkins, producer Thom Bell, and executive Lenny Waronker, whose fingerprints can be found across decades of hits from the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” to R.E.M.’s “Losing My Religion.”
A Legacy Renewed
By the night’s end, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame once again proved that its reach extends far beyond guitar riffs and genre boundaries. From the primal energy of The White Stripes’ minimalist rock was honored in a fierce tribute by Olivia Rodrigo, Feist, and Twenty One Pilots, to the rhythmic empowerment of Salt-N-Pepa, who performed with En Vogue under the watchful eye of Missy Elliott, the ceremony captured the boundless spirit of music itself.
Each inductee, in their own way, reshaped what rock & roll could be, not just a sound, but a force for expression, defiance, and unity. As the final chords faded, the night felt less like an ending and more like a reminder: the beat of rock & roll, in all its forms, still thunders on.
After a night of unforgettable performances and heartfelt tributes, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 induction ceremony will continue to echo across screens and streaming platforms in the weeks ahead.
Where to Watch
For those who missed the live ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2025 will be broadcast on ABC in a primetime special on Sunday, November 16, followed by streaming on Disney+ and Hulu beginning November 17.
The broadcast will feature extended performances, backstage interviews, and never-before-seen rehearsal footage, giving fans a deeper look into how this year’s remarkable collaborations came together, including Outkast’s genre-crossing set, Cyndi Lauper’s multigenerational medley, and Soundgarden’s moving tribute to Chris Cornell.
A separate behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the show, produced by Rock Hall partner Imagine Entertainment, is slated for release on Hulu early next year.
Future Plans for the Hall
Looking beyond the ceremony, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is already preparing for an ambitious slate of 2026 events and exhibits. A new interactive exhibition, titled “Soundtracks of Change,” will open in spring 2026, highlighting how social movements have shaped the sound and spirit of rock across decades. Artifacts from several 2025 inductees, including Cyndi Lauper’s 1984 “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” dress, Outkast’s stage costumes, and Soundgarden’s handwritten lyrics, will anchor the display.
The Hall also announced an expanded digital archives initiative, which will make rare video footage, interviews, and concert recordings available to the public through a redesigned online portal launching later this year.
Greg Harris, the Rock Hall’s president and CEO, reflected on the institution’s evolving mission in a press statement:
“The Hall of Fame isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about storytelling. Every new class helps us connect the dots between generations and genres, showing how the language of rock continues to reinvent itself.”
A Living Legacy
With 2025’s inductees bridging classic rock, hip-hop, alternative, and pop, the Hall’s message this year was clear: the spirit of rock & roll is as much about innovation as tradition. As audiences prepare to relive the magic of the ceremony through its broadcast, the Rock Hall continues its march forward, preserving the past, celebrating the present, and amplifying the sounds that will shape the future.
For full coverage, performance highlights, and exclusive interviews, visit rockhall.com or follow the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. Stay tuned to AcousticMD for more updates
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