The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Honors Joe Cocker, Soundgarden, Warren Zevon, Outkast, The White Stripes, Sly Stone, Brian Wilson and More with Star-Studded Performances
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame presented its 40th annual induction ceremony on Saturday with an evening of music and awards to celebrate an ever-evolving pantheon of musical achievement. A litany of stars graced the stage at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater over the course of four and a half hours, creating countless powerful moments that properly honored not only the latest class of inductees, but also the broader traditions of performance they advanced.
This year’s ceremony honored seven entrants in the performer category: Bad Company, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, The White Stripes and Chubby Checker – who popularized “The Twist,” famously protested the Hall of Fame in 2002 for his lack of recognition, and purposefully booked a conflicting gig with the ceremony. Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon received the Musical Influence Award; Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins and Carol Kaye received the Musical Excellence Award; and former Warner Bros. Records and DreamWorks Records President Lenny Waronker earned the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which recognizes non-performers who have had a significant impact on the music industry.
The show commenced on a high note with a salute to Sly Stone, the first of several tributes to departed artists. Stone, who passed in June, was recognized by a stacked cast of performers from across genres; over a band of Beck, Questlove and Leon Thomas III, Flea and Stevie Wonder helmed “Dance to the Music,” Maxwell delivered soul-stirring versions of “Everyday People” and “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” and Jennifer Hudson roared through “Higher.” Later in the show, Elton John emerged to pay tribute to the late Brian Wilson with memories of a starstruck first meeting and a moving rendition of “God Only Knows,” backed by Benmont Tench and Don Was.
As several of this year’s inductions were posthumous, the legacies of those artists were also honored by friends and devotees. Highlights among these included David Letterman’s heartfelt remembrances of his friend Warren Zevon and The Killers’ subsequent performance of “Lawyers, Guns and Money” and the reunited Soundgarden, who spoke to their love for late frontman Chris Cornell before bolstering a revival set with sit-ins from Nancy Wilson, The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile.
Another showstopping moment came with the star-studded medley of Outkast hits that properly expressed the pathbreaking Atlanta duo’s tremendous influence. While André 3000 and Big Boy did not share the stage beyond their acceptance speeches, the latter welcomed J.I.D., Doja Cat, Janelle Monáe, Sleepy Brown and Tyler, the Creator, as well as a 13-piece band, for an unforgettable movement through hits like “ATLiens,” “Ms. Jackson,” “Bombs Over Baghdad” and “Hey Ya!”
The performances are generally the most striking part of the annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony – and indeed, Olivia Rodrigo and Feist’s intimate “I Think We’re Gonna Be Friends” was deeply moving – but Jack White’s acceptance speech was as captivating as any song. Accepting The White Stripes’ recognition on behalf of Meg White, who could not attend the ceremony, White gave inspiring advice for young artists before paying his respects to more than 30 artists who have not been inducted into the hall. That list included Fugazi, The Gun Club, Loretta Lynn, Arthur Lee and Love, Dick Dale, Beck, Pavement, Black Flag, Merle Haggard, The Damned, The Strokes, Jethro Tull, The Breeders, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Minor Threat, Captain Beefheart and Death.
Saturday’s final note went out to Joe Cocker, whose indelible mark on the shape of rock was exemplified with an anthemic set from the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks and their tried and true ensemble showed their love for an artist that they famously honored with Mad Dogs & Englishmen Revisited (LIVE AT LOCKN’) by welcoming Nathaniel Ratelifff, Teddy Swims, Cyndi Lauper, The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson and Bryan Adams for covers of “The Letter,” “Feelin’ Alright” and a radiant grand finale of “With a Little Help from My Friends.”
The 40th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is available to stream now on Disney+. An edited primetime special will air on ABC on Jan. 1, 2026. Learn more about this year’s inductees and watch clips from the show at rockhall.com.
