The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has officially announced its 2025 inductees, and it’s the kind of list that reminds you just how much music can move generations. Congratulations to Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes — a lineup that spans decades, genres, and pure musical magic.
The news broke during Sunday night’s American Idol broadcast, with Ryan Seacrest unveiling the names live on air — a tradition now two years strong thanks to ABC parent company Disney, which holds the broadcast rights to the Rock Hall ceremonies. And while the main performer category got the spotlight, there were plenty of other well-deserved honors: Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon are being recognized with the Musical Influence Award, while the late greats Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and the incredible bassist Carol Kaye will receive the Musical Excellence Award. Industry titan Lenny Waronker will be honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for his groundbreaking work behind the scenes.
The official induction ceremony will take place on November 8th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, with a live stream on Disney+ and a televised special on ABC to follow. It’ll mark the fourth time the ceremony has been held in Los Angeles, and the first since 2022.
And what a tapestry of impact this year’s class represents.
Chubby Checker, who gave the world The Twist and kickstarted a dance craze, is finally getting his due — 65 years after releasing his first record.
Joe Cocker’s legendary raspy voice, immortalized at Woodstock and beyond, gets honored posthumously, a bittersweet but beautiful moment.
Cyndi Lauper’s revolutionary energy and fearlessness — an icon for generations of misfits and dreamers — now takes its rightful place in the Hall.
Outkast changed the face of hip-hop forever, bringing innovation, storytelling, and Southern swagger into the global spotlight.
Soundgarden, led by the late Chris Cornell, helped forge an entire genre with their heavy, deeply emotional sound.
The White Stripes reminded the world in the early 2000s that raw, minimalist rock could still start fires around the globe.
And Bad Company, those pillars of classic rock radio, are finally enshrined, their timeless anthems still soundtracking life’s biggest moments.
Of course, some notable nominees didn’t make the cut this year — The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, Oasis, and Phish — but each has carved a permanent place in the hearts of fans. Fun fact: while Phish dominated the fan ballot, it was Bad Company who finished second, with Billy Idol right behind them.
For those keeping score, artists become eligible for the Hall 25 years after their first commercial release — and remarkably, Checker, Cocker, Bad Company, and Outkast all made it in on their first nomination. A fitting tribute to careers that never stopped resonating, never stopped inspiring.
Last year’s Rock Hall class celebrated artists like Cher, Mary J. Blige, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest — a reminder that the Hall continues to stretch across genres, styles, and generations. This year’s lineup follows that spirit, blending classic rock royalty with pioneering pop icons, grunge innovators, and genre-defying visionaries.
November 8th can’t come soon enough.
