Music Legends Honoured at Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 Ceremony
The music world celebrated a monumental event as Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 officially welcomed a new class of iconic artists. The prestigious induction ceremony, held at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on November 10, 2025, recognised the enduring impact of musicians spanning several generations and genres.
A Star-Studded Night of Tributes and Performances
The 40th annual induction ceremony was a night to remember, kicking off with a powerful tribute to the late Sly Stone. The performance featured an all-star lineup including Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, Questlove, Leon Thomas, Beck, Maxwell, and Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, setting the tone for an evening filled with musical excellence.
In the performer category, the inductees included Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Outkast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes. Meanwhile, hip-hop pioneers Salt-N-Pepa and the legendary Warren Zevon received the Musical Influence Award, acknowledging their significant impact on the music industry.
Memorable Moments and Emotional Tributes
One of the evening's highlights came when Jack White took the stage to accept the honour on behalf of the iconic rock duo, The White Stripes. The hip-hop world celebrated as Outkast, comprising members Andre 3000 and Big Boi, were inducted by Donald Glover. While Andre 3000 did not participate in the performance, Big Boi was joined by an impressive lineup of artists including Doja Cat, Tyler the Creator, Janelle Monae, J.I.D, Killer Mike, and Sleepy Brown to perform the group's biggest hits like 'Ms. Jackson' and 'Hey Ya'.
The emotional peak of the evening came during Soundgarden's induction, where actor Jim Carrey brought out the late Chris Cornell's eldest daughter, Lily Cornell Silver, to speak about her father. She introduced a performance by his former Soundgarden bandmates, including original member Hiro Yamamoto, with Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlisle handling vocals.
Television personality David Letterman made a special appearance to induct Warren Zevon, even bringing out the guitar that Zevon had given him before his passing for use during the tribute performance. Missy Elliott also appeared to induct Salt-N-Pepa, adding to the night's star power.
The ceremony also honoured other contributors to the music industry, with Caroly Kaye, Nicky Hopkins, and Thom Bell receiving the Musical Excellence Award. Producer and longtime Warner Records executive Lenny Waronker was honoured with the Ahmet Ertegun award, recognising his significant contributions to the music business.
With the exception of Chubby Checker, who was inducted through a video tribute from a live show, all artists had dedicated performance sections featuring top musical artists from today and years past, making the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction one of the most memorable in its 40-year history.
