Soundgarden, the White Stripes, Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Bad Company, Joe Cocker and Chubby Checker were enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last night (Nov. 8) during a Los Angeles ceremony flecked with superstar contributions from Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Chappell Roan and Missy Elliott.
“When the Seattle music scene exploded, it resurrected rock and roll for me,” actor Jim Carrey professed while inducting Soundgarden’s surviving members Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd and Hiro Yamamoto. “When I heard Soundgarden for the first time, I wasn’t just excited — I wanted to put a flannel shirt on and run into the streets screaming, my mother smoked during pregnancy!”
The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen stepped in for late frontman Chris Cornell on “Rusty Cage,” with an assist from Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready, while fellow Seattle veteran Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains joined when Brandi Carlile fronted the band for “Black Hole Sun.”
“I am just really, really happy that he got to make music with his friends,” Cornell’s daughter Lily said after Carrey’s speech. “At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. I know how much purpose that gave him, and how much it’s meant to people who have heard that music. That’s what I’ll be holding in my heart tonight.”
His younger daughter Toni, 21, also sang “Fell on Black Days” with guitar accompaniment from Heart’s Nancy Wilson. “I just wish he were here to see this tremendous honor for himself,” she said. “I know how proud he would have been, but he’s the only reason why I do music, so being here and being able to share my voice because of him is amazing.”
Jack White represented the White Stripes amid the absence of reclusive drummer Meg White during their induction, the speech for which was given by fellow Detroit rocker Iggy Pop. “I hear echoes of the Who, Small Faces, the Beatles, hard rock and country blues in Jack’s playing,” Pop offered. “He could do it all. And the writing he is capable of was something that was not typical of the great Detroit bands of the ’60s and ’70s. This was more melodic, more hooky. After all, it was a new century and the White Stripes’ music was coming from a foundational love instead of revolution, and with time to turn a page.”
In his acceptance speech, White acknowledged he’d spoken with Meg “the other day” and that “she’s very sorry she couldn’t make it tonight, but she’s very grateful for the folks who have supported her throughout all the years. To young artists, I want to say, get your hands dirty and drop the screens and get out in your garage or your little room and get obsessed. Get obsessed with something. Get passionate. We all want to share in what you might create.” The duo’s music was repped by guest performers Rodrigo and Feist on “We’re Going To Be Friends” and Twenty One Pilots on the inescapable “Seven Nation Army.”
Both members of pioneering rap duo Outkast were in the room for their induction last night, but they also chose not to stage together for what would have been their first performance since a 2014 reunion tour. Instead, Andre 3000 watched from the audience as Big Boi led a guest-filled run through “ATLiens” with J.I.D., “Ms. Jackson” with Doja Cat (who forgot the words at one point), a sizzling “B.O.B.” with Tyler, the Creator, a shaky “Hey Ya!” with Janelle Monae, “The Way You Move” with Sleepy Brown and “The Whole World” with Killer Mike.
To begin the show, Wonder, the Roots’ Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Flea, Beck, Maxwell and Jennifer Hudson teamed for a Sly Stone tribute of “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Higher.” Another fallen legend from 2025, Brian Wilson, got his own salute by John, Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench, drummer Kenny Aronoff and bassist Don Was on the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows.”
Lauper focused her induction speech on the influence “of the women in the industry who came before me. My shoulders are broad enough to have the women that come after me stand on mine, and the little kid in me still believes that rock’n’roll can save the world.” The artist was inducted by Roan, who dusted off a Lauper-inspired outfit for the occasion and even accidentally said the “F word” during her remarks (“I messed up so bad by refusing to get contacts,” she joked).
“Cyndi embodies every quality of an artist that I admire,” Roan said. “She’s a born performer and a revolutionary songwriter. A forever fashion icon and a fierce advocate and ally. From the very beginning, she owned every ounce of who she was.” Lauper then performed with a pickup band including Go-Go’s drummer Gina Schock and ex-Smashing Pumpkins bassist Ginger Pooley on “True Colors,” “Time After Time” with rising U.K. singer RAYE and “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” with the latter, Avril Lavigne and Salt-N-Pepa.
Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers was too ill to attend the induction, leading to drummer Simon Kirke carrying performances of “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Can’t Get Enough” with assistance from the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson, Bryan Adams, Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Nancy Wilson. Cocker, who died in 2014, was feted by Bryan Adams (“It’s one thing to cover a song — it’s another to make it your own,” he said of his famed cover of the Beatles’ “With a Little Help From My Friends”), and Elliott helped welcome Salt-N-Pepa as the first female rap group in the Hall.
Warren Zevon, Lenny Waronker, Carol Kaye, Thom Bell and Nicky Hopkins were also inducted this year via special categories.
