Everything you missed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrated its 40th anniversary in Los Angeles on Nov. 8 with an unforgettable night honoring the 2025 inductees: Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes. The star-studded ceremony was filled with powerhouse performances and emotional tributes to the legends who’ve shaped music history.
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Maxwell joined Stevie Wonder, Leon Thomas, Beck, Flea, and Jennifer Hudson for a show-stopping Sly Stone tribute. “It’s Sly Stone. I mean, he had women on stage, he had female musicians, he had white folks, he had black folks. He was the future on stage and in music,” Maxwell told our entertainment reporter Courtney Tezeno on the red carpet. His excitement was contagious as he teased, “We’re going to take you higher!”
Questlove, who directed a Sly Stone documentary, reflected on his deep connection to the music icon. “Sly is the first music I ever heard in my lifeit’s in my DNA,” he shared. “I wanted to do a film about why innovators, these gods we hold up in the light, sometimes self-sabotage. It’s more about the human side of them.” Questlove also revealed his next project focuses on Earth, Wind & Fire, saying, “It’s the study of metaphysicswhen we sing their hooks, we’re singing affirmations.”
Cyndi Lauper admitted that being inducted was surreal. “The fact that I made a living by singing. Can you believe it?” she said.
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Meanwhile, Salt-N-Pepa earned the Influence Award for their pioneering role as women in hip-hop. “To stand here today is such a prestigious award,” Sandra “Pepa” Denton said. Cheryl “Salt” James added, “It’s like the cherry on top of the cake.” Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper chimed in, saying, “We put in a lot of work, and sometimes it was like the struggle was real.”
And fans, rejoice! Salt-N-Pepa confirmed a reunion tour is in the works, loosely set for 2026.
Janelle Monáe brought the house down, honoring OutKast, praising the duo for paving the way for her. “They showed me the blueprint so I could make the you-print,” she shared. “I could cry thinking about what they’ve contributed to music and how much they’ve inspired me.”
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Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile joined forces for an electrifying performance of "Black Hole Sun" to honor Soundgarden. Carlile’s tribute to the band and the late Chris Cornell was a powerful hometown homage: “Growing up, they were the coolest and most musically complex band to come out of Seattle.”
She continued, “Not to mention they had an absolute rock star singer who could sing from the floor to the ceiling. So much so that one of the interesting things I've seen since sweet Chris left us is that a lot of the people who have been able to adequately tribute Chris have been women, because it's so difficult to sing him.”
The night proved that rock and roll’s legacy continues to evolve higher, louder, and more soulful than ever.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony streams on Disney+, with a highlights special airing on ABC January 1, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET.
