The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2025 class is officially here, celebrating a sweeping lineup of iconic performers, musical pioneers, and industry legends. Announced by Ryan Seacrest during a special American Idol episode, this year’s inductees embody decades of evolution in music.
In the Performer category, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes are all set to be honored. From Checker’s dancefloor revolution with “The Twist” to OutKast’s Southern hip-hop domination, each artist reshaped the cultural soundscape in distinct ways.
Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon will be recognized with the Musical Influence Award, saluting their groundbreaking contributions to hip-hop and rock storytelling, respectively. Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye—all legends behind the scenes—will receive the Musical Excellence Award for their monumental impact on the sound of generations.
Industry titan Lenny Waronker will be honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award, acknowledging his visionary leadership at Warner Bros and DreamWorks Records.
The 2025 induction ceremony takes place November 8 at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, streaming live on Disney+ with a later ABC broadcast. This year’s class perfectly captures the Hall’s evolving definition of rock—one that embraces innovation, diversity, and timeless influence.
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