A look at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 inductees and how they were honored

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Celebrates Diverse 2025 Class in Star-Studded Los Angeles Ceremony

Music legends spanning multiple genres took center stage Saturday night as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomed its 2025 class during a celebratory ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater. The event featured emotional tributes, powerful performances, and appearances by some of the biggest names in the industry.

This year’s inductees represent a cross-section of musical innovation, from pioneering rap groups and alternative rock bands to influential session musicians and producers who shaped the sound of popular music over several decades.

Atlanta hip-hop duo Outkast, eligible 25 years after their first release, received their honors from actor and musician Donald Glover. While André 3000 was notably absent, Big Boi delivered a memorable performance alongside an all-star lineup featuring Janelle Monáe, Doja Cat, JID, Killer Mike, and Sleepy Brown, showcasing the group’s genre-defining sound that blended Southern rap with funk, soul, and experimental elements.

Grunge pioneers Soundgarden’s induction carried emotional weight as the band’s surviving members performed with Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile filling in for late vocalist Chris Cornell, who died in 2017. Actor Jim Carrey delivered the induction speech, highlighting the band’s technical prowess and artistic impact on alternative rock. Cornell’s daughter Toni joined Heart’s Nancy Wilson for a special tribute performance, adding a poignant touch to the evening.

The White Stripes, the garage rock revivalists who helped define early 2000s rock, were honored with an induction from punk legend Iggy Pop. Though the famously reclusive duo of Jack White and Meg White did not perform together, artists including Olivia Rodrigo, Feist, and Twenty One Pilots delivered interpretations of the band’s raw, blues-influenced catalog.

Female trailblazers received well-deserved recognition with both Cyndi Lauper and Salt-N-Pepa entering the Hall. Lauper, inducted by rising pop star Chappell Roan, performed her ’80s anthems alongside guests Avril Lavigne and Raye. Hip-hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa, introduced by Missy Elliott, demonstrated their enduring influence with a medley of hits, joined by En Vogue for their collaborative track “Whatta Man.”

The evening also honored artists posthumously, including Joe Cocker, the gritty-voiced British soul interpreter who passed away in 2014. Bryan Adams inducted Cocker, with Teddy Swims, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and other performers delivering a rousing version of his iconic Beatles cover “With A Little Help From My Friends.”

Warren Zevon, the sardonic songwriter who died in 2003, was welcomed into the Hall by longtime friend and supporter David Letterman. The Killers performed in tribute to Zevon, whose darkly comic lyrics and musical craftsmanship earned him a devoted following despite limited mainstream success during his lifetime.

English rock supergroup Bad Company received their honors from Mick Fleetwood, with a performance featuring drummer Simon Kirke joined by Heart’s Nancy Wilson, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, and Black Crowes vocalist Chris Robinson.

The ceremony also recognized several behind-the-scenes figures whose contributions shaped countless hits. These included session bassist Carol Kaye, who played on thousands of recordings for artists ranging from the Beach Boys to Barbra Streisand; producer Thom Bell, architect of the Philadelphia soul sound; keyboard virtuoso Nicky Hopkins, whose work enhanced recordings by the Beatles and Rolling Stones; and producer/executive Lenny Waronker, who shepherded artists from Prince to R.E.M.

Dance music pioneer Chubby Checker accepted his Musical Excellence Award remotely via video, a fitting recognition for the man whose hit “The Twist” revolutionized popular dance in the early 1960s.

The 2025 induction continues the Rock Hall’s ongoing evolution, embracing artists across musical styles while acknowledging both commercial success and artistic influence. With the ceremony returning to Los Angeles after previous years in New York and Cleveland (home of the physical Hall of Fame), the event underscored music’s ability to transcend genre classifications while celebrating the enduring legacies of performers who shaped popular culture.