The Class of 2025 & Major Inductees provided a night of legends and legacies that celebrated diversity, emotions and rock and roll’s ever expanding soul.
The 2025 class featured a broad and eclectic set of honorees:
In the “Performers” category: The White Stripes, OutKast, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, Bad Company, Chubby Checker and Joe Cocker.
In other honors: the “Musical Influence” award went to Salt‑N‑Pepa and Warren Zevon.
The “Musical Excellence” awards were given to industry heavy-weights including Carol Kaye, Nicky Hopkins and Thom Bell.
With that lineup, the ceremony promised — and delivered — a wide-ranging celebration of rock, pop, hip-hop, and musical legacy.
Speeches & Moments to Remember
One of the most talked-about moments came during the induction of The White Stripes. Jack White accepted the honor on behalf of the band (his former partner and bandmate, Meg White, was absent). He shared:
“She checked it for me for a lot of punctuation and corrections.”
He also quoted her recollection: “She said, ‘Do you remember, Jack? We used to walk around and animals, for some reason, would stare at us… an elephant did the exact same thing one time.’”
Jack closed his remarks with: “My sister thanks you, and I thank you.”
For Cyndi Lauper’s induction, her speech carried an unambiguous sentiment of gratitude and empowerment:
“I just want to say that I stand on the shoulders of the women who came before me, and my shoulders are broad enough to have the women who came after me stand on mine.”
And she ended with a call: “The little kid in me still believes that rock ’n’ roll can save the world. … Let’s come together again and do good in the world because it needs us.”
Meanwhile, during the induction of OutKast (Andre 3000 & Big Boi), their presenter (Donald Glover) praised them with:
“Outkast seemed to effortlessly explore what could be. They made every experiment sound like a destiny.”
These speeches underscored the evening’s themes: influence, legacy, reaching across genres and generations, and the importance of artists pushing boundaries.
Performances & Tributes
The ceremony delivered numerous standout performances:
For The White Stripes’ induction: there was no reunion of Jack & Meg, but a high-profile tribute: Olivia Rodrigo and Feist performed “We’re Going to Be Friends,” and Twenty One Pilots delivered a charged rendition of “Seven Nation Army.” Jack White referenced the absence of Meg directly and thanked fans.
For Cyndi Lauper: the performance opened with her solo “True Colors,” followed by “Time After Time” with British artist Raye, and concluding with “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” featuring Avril Lavigne and Salt-N-Pepa. During that last number she encouraged audience participation and raised her fist during a dramatic pause.
For OutKast: while the duo did not perform a full set together, there were tributes, including a high‐energy turn by Tyler, the Creator, celebrating their track “B.O.B.” and emotional acceptance speeches from Big Boi and Andre 3000.
For Soundgarden: The ceremony included deeply emotional moments, with the surviving band members and Chris Cornell’s daughters present, and moving tributes by artists such as Brandi Carlile and Taylor Momsen.
These performances combined nostalgic reverence with contemporary reinterpretation, making for a night that connected past, present and future.
Event Length & Flow
The ceremony ran for roughly three and a half hours, including the host’s opening, assorted videos, inductions, performances and speeches. While the broadcast version may have been edited for later airing, the live event kept a brisk pace, with minimal downtime between segments but enough moments of pause to allow for emotional weight and tribute.
Highlights & Memorable Moments
Some of the highlights that stood out:
The fact that The White Stripes finally made it into the Hall after years of eligibility — their hugely influential stripped-down sound acknowledged.
Cyndi Lauper’s performance and her speech — blending pop-accessibility with a clearly rock-heart legacy, and her message about female empowerment in music.
OutKast’s presence commanded the room; their acknowledgement as genre-shifters (hip-hop meeting rock & roll’s evolution) gave weight beyond just the performance.
The tribute to Soundgarden — particularly poignant given Chris Cornell’s passing and the band’s impact — gave the evening a deeper emotional layer.
The blending of star power with rising artists: the inclusion of younger performers (Rodrigo, Tyler the Creator) kept the evening from feeling like nothing but nostalgia.
The almost-reunion of The White Stripes (tempted by fan hopes) that didn’t happen, but whose absence itself became a talking point — Jack’s speech made it clear that Meg’s absence was personal, not procedural.
Controversies / Points of Discussion
A few aspects stirred discussion:
The absence of Meg White at The White Stripes induction. Her decision not to attend (or inability) was widely noted. Jack, in his acceptance speech, said she was “very sorry she couldn’t make it tonight, but she’s very grateful for the folks who have supported her throughout all the years.” Some fans felt a reunion would have been possible; others acknowledged her longtime retreat from public life.
André 3000 was there in the building, but declined to take the stage for OutKast’s live performance. This was a missed highlight that could have taken that over the top.
The question of eligibility & snubs: While the inductees were celebrated, there were notable artists who didn’t make the cut and whose absence generated commentary: for example, the likes of Oasis, Mariah Carey and Joy Division / New Order had been discussed heavily.
There was a minor on-stage flub during the introduction of Cyndi Lauper: presenter Chappell Roan accidentally dropped an F-bomb while reading a teleprompter. She covered it quickly and recovered with humor and grace.
Some purists raised questions about the streaming/broadcast format (live on Disney+, editing later for ABC/Hulu) and whether the in-person live experience differs significantly from the televised version — though that’s more structural than dramatic.
Overall, nothing scandalous in the sense of a meltdown or major interruption — but these were the talking points among the fans and critics.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction felt like a strong, balanced celebration of legacy and relevance. The diversity of inductees — from garage-rock two-piece (The White Stripes) to southern hip-hop innovators (OutKast) to ’80s pop icon (Cyndi Lauper) to grunge pioneers (Soundgarden) — reflected rock & roll’s wide orbit.
Jack White’s speech especially stood out for its personal tone about Meg White, their strange little origin story (elephants stopping to stare!), and the genuine sense of gratitude. Cyndi Lauper’s message of intergenerational support and activism was timely. The performances bridged eras and generations, giving both die-hard fans and newcomers something to connect with.
From a music writer’s viewpoint, the event offered plenty of soundbites, standout visuals, and meaningful quotes — useful for any retrospective or feature article.
If I were to nit-pick: the ceremony felt almost too smooth, polished; some rawer or more spontaneous moments might have made it even more memorable. And while the tributes were moving, there’s always the underlying question of how the Hall decides who goes in and who doesn’t — something that continues to stir debate.
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