The 40th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place on Saturday night at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, celebrating a star-studded lineup of legendary musicians across multiple generations. This year’s inductees included Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, OutKast, Salt-N-Pepa, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon.
The evening began with an emotional tribute to the late Sly Stone, featuring performances from Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Questlove, Leon Thomas, Beck, Maxwell, and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Later, Elton John led a moving tribute to the late Brian Wilson, while a video montage honoured the legendary Ozzy Osbourne.
The ceremony saw the induction of some of the most influential artists of the last several decades. Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, OutKast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes were all inducted into the Performer category. Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon were awarded the Musical Influence Award, while Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, and Thom Bell were recognised for their Musical Excellence. Lenny Waronker, producer and long-time Warner Records executive, received the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Jack White accepted the honour for The White Stripes, sharing a heartfelt message from his bandmate Meg White, who has stayed out of the public eye since 2009. “She helped me write all of this,” he said to the crowd. Olivia Rodrigo and Feist delivered a moving rendition of “We’re Going to Be Friends”, followed by Twenty One Pilots performing “Seven Nation Army”.
OutKast, the iconic duo of André 3000 and Big Boi, were inducted by actor and musician Donald Glover. Their electrifying performance featured collaborations with Doja Cat, Tyler, the Creator, Janelle Monáe, J.I.D, Killer Mike, and Sleepy Brown, who joined them for unforgettable hits like “Ms. Jackson”, “Hey Ya”, and “B.O.B (Bombs Over Baghdad)”.
In a particularly emotional moment, Jim Carrey inducted Soundgarden, joined by Chris Cornell’s daughters, Lily and Toni Cornell, who shared heartfelt tributes to their late father. Soundgarden’s original member, Hiro Yamamoto, spoke about his family’s history, connecting their story of wartime injustice to the present.
One of the most anticipated moments of the evening came when Chappell Roan inducted Cyndi Lauper. Lauper, who performed her iconic anthem “True Colors” while waving a pride flag, was later joined on stage by Raye, Avril Lavigne, and Salt-N-Pepa for renditions of “Time After Time” and “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”. In her speech, Lauper honoured the women who paved the way for her and called for unity through music.
David Letterman and Missy Elliott also participated in the ceremony, with Letterman inducting Warren Zevon and Missy Elliott honouring Salt-N-Pepa. During their performance, Salt-N-Pepa addressed their ongoing legal battle for ownership of their music, revealing that their catalogue had been removed from streaming platforms. “Hip hop gave us a voice,” said Cheryl James (Salt). “And we’ll keep using it.”