Cindy Lauper performs at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction 2025 Billboard
Outkast & Olivia Rodrigo Power the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025
DECEMBER 1, 2025, 8:00 AM
For decades, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has celebrated the most legendary rock stars of the ’60s and ’70s. However, this year marks a change: they finally decided to focus on the music that shapes today’s playlists.
On November 8, the induction ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles celebrated artists that many people grew up listening to: Outkast, Soundgarden, the White Stripes, and Salt-N-Pepa. Clearly, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame isn’t just looking back anymore.
Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa were among the night’s headliners, reminding fans of the roots of 1990s hip-hop and Southern rap. Outkast’s early work in the Atlanta basement known as the Dungeon was highlighted, showing how small beginnings led to massive success. Salt-N-Pepa also expressed their gratitude to fans while referencing the ongoing legal battle over their master recordings, which have temporarily removed their music from streaming platforms.
The White Stripes were honored at the event for their garage-rock influence, with Jack White delivering a message from Meg White thanking fans for their support. Younger performers with pop discographies, like Olivia Rodrigo and Feist, paid tribute to the band with “We Are Going to Be Friends,” while older performers like Twenty One Pilots covered “Seven Nation Army.” By covering classic hits, both groups celebrate the same music from different perspectives, showing how the White Stripes’ sound continued to inspire artists across many generations.
“Artists like Olivia Rodrigo are standing on what legends like the White Stripes and Outkast built,” said Junior Abigail Effendi. “Seeing the younger performers honoring the older ones all on stage together really showed me how today’s music wouldn’t exist without the artists who came before. You could hear the influence in every note or song.”
Cyndi Lauper’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame brought a mix of celebration and reflection during her impactful career. Lauper’s career spans music, activism, colorful style, and decades of hits. Her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour recently wrapped a twenty-five-show North American run and reminded her fans why she remains a lasting influence on pop culture. The tour celebrated not just her music, but her impact on generations of performers.
“‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun’ is one of those iconic songs that everyone knows that is still so fun to listen to today. Honestly, seeing Cyndi Lauper inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame made me appreciate how much her music has influenced artists we listen to now,” said Junior Ananya Gupta.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame made it clear: the artists who shaped the 1990s and early 2000s are now firmly part of rock history and will continue to influence music.
