Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, Outkast Among 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

Cyndi Lauper, Chubby Checker, Outkast, and More Headline Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025 Inductees

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its inductees for the class of 2025, and the list is filled with influential firsts with pioneers from the various genres. Among this year’s first-time nominees are legendary figures with Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, and Bad Company, along with the cast representing iconic pop star Cyndi Lauper, hip-hop groundbreakers Outkast, the hard-core rock duo The White Stripes, and Soundgarden, titans of grunge.

After giving timeless 1980s anthems such that of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “Time After Time,” Cyndi Lauper was finally to have her moment in the textures of Hall of Fame recognition. From winning a Tony for Broadway musical Kinky Boots to being a vocal champion of LGBTQ+ issues, Lauper’s evolving and multifaceted career makes her a pop culture icon.

Read more: Superheroes to the Rescue: How Summer 2025 Is Set to Revive the Box Office

Entering the Hall at 83, Chubby Checker twirled around the world with “The Twist” and “Let’s Twist Again.” While prior to this he had been noticeably let down that he was not inducted, this has finally come in, so it’s a big moment for the rock n’ roll pioneer. Joe Cocker due to his voice had been synonymous with the word raspy and posthumously remembered for his iconic performance during Woodstock with “With a Little Help From My Friends.” This tribute to him was sponsored by legends of the industry, including Billy Joel, to members of ZZ Top and Elvis Costello’s band.

With genre-bending albums and a stack of Grammys, André 3000 and Big Boi redefined the sound of hip-hop in the Atlanta duo Outkast. Their chart-topping tracks “Hey Ya!” and “Ms. Jackson” affirm their unassailable position in the great music lineage of the present. Living off two of the most recognizably raw garage rocker’s identities, Jack and Meg White, the duo brought garage rock back into mainstream prominence with their hyped anthem “Seven Nation Army.”

Finally, grunge pioneers Soundgarden have been inducted into the Hall of Fame after making three nominations, with the late Chris Cornell at the helm. Following contemporaries Nirvana and Pearl Jam, their music shaped a generation. Bad Company ended a class that merges mainstream but deep-rooted artistry with classics such as “Can’t Get Enough” and “Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy.”

Read more: Twilight Saga 6 Fan Trailer Sparks Frenzy as Netflix Announces Official Midnight Sun Series

The special honors also showcase artists and contributors behind the scenes who have shaped the industry. The Musical Influence Award will go to the rap duo’s pride, Salt-N-Pepa, and the posthumously honored singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. These late producers of Musical Excellence awards go to Thom Bell, a musical genius who is also deceased, as well as piano maestro Nicky Hopkins and bass ace Carol Kaye. The Ahmet Ertegun Award, which courts recognition among professionals making an impact in the industry, goes to the former executive of Warner Bros. Records, Lenny Waronker, for working with legends like Prince, R.E.M., and Paul Simon.

True, some big names like Mariah Carey, Phish, and Oasis didn’t get inducted this year, but in 2025, the class will be all about star talent breaking boundaries across generations and styles. As always, artists become eligible for induction 25 years after their first commercial release, and selection is made by over 1,200 artists, historians, and music professionals.

The ceremony will have a place in Los Angeles sometime this fall, where the music world will converge to honor these legendary artists and the legacies they now leave behind.

We’re now on WhatsApp. Click to join. 

Like this post?
Register at One World News to never miss out on videos, celeb interviews, and best reads.