The Moment
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame turned Los Angeles into a time-capsule block party. The ceremony kicked off at the Peacock Theater, where the Class of 2025—led by OutKast and Cyndi Lauper—took their victory laps on a red carpet packed with music history and very modern swagger.
André 3000 and Big Boi flashed peace signs; Lauper blew a kiss. Joining them in the honor roll: Jack White (as a solo artist), Salt-N-Pepa, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, and Soundgarden. In a poignant touch, Chris Cornell’s children—Lillian, Chris, and Toni—were on hand to represent the late frontman.
The guest list doubled as a playlist. Donald Glover—aka Childish Gambino—arrived in a mint smoking jacket that could stop traffic. Chappell Roan brought camp-couture drama in a silver dress with a skirt that read like tomorrow’s headlines. And the rock alumni club showed up: Mick Fleetwood, Jerry Cantrell, Chris Robinson, Janelle Monáe, The Killers, Killer Mike, Beck, and more.
Outkast arrives for their induction into the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/V4UdxbvpAo
— Modern Notoriety (@ModernNotoriety) November 9, 2025
The Take
I love when the Rock Hall gets the mix right: one foot in the vinyl crate, one foot on TikTok. OutKast’s induction feels both overdue and perfectly timed—hip-hop that rewired pop, fashion, and the South’s place in music. Lauper’s inclusion is a bright bow on the MTV era: a voice you can spot from a mile away and a style playbook everyone’s still cribbing.
This class is a syllabus in what “rock & roll” has come to mean: an attitude more than a guitar tone. Salt-N-Pepa paved lanes for women in rap. Jack White kept analog cool in a digital world. Soundgarden survived the grunge wars to become canon—tonight doubling as a bittersweet Cornell tribute. Chubby Checker taught America to move. Bad Company supplied the arena-filling backbone. It’s less a museum night, more a family reunion where the cousins finally admit they all love the same beat.
Think of it like prom night for your record collection: hip-hop corsage, alt-rock boutonniere, and pop glitter everywhere—nobody arguing about the playlist because it’s all connected.
Receipts
Confirmed
- Location and timing: The 2025 induction ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on November 8.
- Inductees spotted and named: OutKast, Cyndi Lauper, Jack White, Salt-N-Pepa, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Soundgarden.
- Arrivals: Donald Glover (mint smoking jacket) and Chappell Roan (silver dress with a newspaper-style skirt), plus Mick Fleetwood, Jerry Cantrell, Chris Robinson, Janelle Monáe, The Killers, Killer Mike, Beck.
- Chris Cornell’s children—Lillian, Chris, Toni—attended to represent their father.
Unverified/To Be Announced
- Specific performance setlists and surprise collaborations were not confirmed at press time.
- Broadcast or streaming details for a televised special have not been announced in the material reviewed.
Attribution in brief: Inductee list and arrivals reported from on-site coverage, supported by red-carpet photo documentation distributed through a major photo agency.
Backstory (For Casual Readers)
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, based in Cleveland, inducts artists who’ve made a lasting impact on popular music. Inductions often stir debate—what counts as “rock,” who’s been snubbed, and why it took so long. OutKast shaped Southern hip-hop and pop culture. Cyndi Lauper is an ’80s icon with megahits and Broadway cred. Soundgarden helped define grunge; Chris Cornell is one of the genre’s great voices. Salt-N-Pepa broke barriers for women in rap, while Jack White carried garage-rock revivalism into the 21st century. Chubby Checker is dance-floor DNA, and Bad Company is classic-rock bedrock.
What’s Next
Expect acceptance speeches and performance clips to roll out on official channels in the coming days. A TV or streaming package typically follows Rock Hall ceremonies, so keep an eye on the Hall’s feeds for a premiere date. Also watch for full-song uploads, especially any cross-genre jams—this class is built for those.
Sources
- On-site red carpet and inductee coverage published November 8, 2025.
- Getty Images editorial photo sets from the Peacock Theater red carpet, November 8–9, 2025.
Your turn: Which 2025 inductee feels most “about time,” and who do you think the Rock Hall should prioritize next year?
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