The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame just dropped its 2025 class lineup, and boy, what a wonderfully weird musical gumbo it’s serving up. Think about it — where else would you find Chubby Checker rubbing shoulders with OutKast, or Cyndi Lauper sharing the spotlight with Soundgarden? It’s the kind of eclectic mix that would make a streaming algorithm’s head explode.
American Idol — still hanging in there after all these years — hosted the big reveal, which feels oddly fitting for this particular batch of inductees. Seven performers made the cut, each one a testament to rock’s stubborn refusal to stay in its lane: Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes.
Rock Hall chairman John Sykes called it like he saw it (though perhaps understating things just a tad): “Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture.” Well, yeah — that’s putting it mildly. These artists didn’t just leave footprints; they carved canyons.
Some first-timers struck gold right out of the gate. Bad Company, Chubby Checker, and OutKast snagged their spots on their very first nominations. Sometimes the universe just gets it right, you know?
The class of ’25 reads like somebody shuffled a deck of musical genius and dealt out a royal flush. There’s 83-year-old Chubby Checker, who got America’s hips doing things that would’ve scandalized their grandparents. The White Stripes — Jack and Meg’s stripped-down revolution that proved you didn’t need more than two people and a whole lot of attitude to shake up the 2000s. And OutKast? Andre 3000 and Big Boi turned Atlanta into hip-hop’s creative epicenter, making “hey ya” the most infectious phrase since “yeah yeah yeah.”
There’s a bittersweet note to this year’s celebrations, though. We’ll be remembering Chris Cornell’s earth-shattering vocals with Soundgarden, Joe Cocker’s raw emotional power, and Bad Company’s Boz Burrell’s thundering basslines — all gone too soon, but now permanently etched in rock’s memory.
The Hall’s also tipping its hat to some serious game-changers beyond the main stage. Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon are getting the Musical Influence Award — about time, really. And speaking of overdue recognition, the Musical Excellence Award is acknowledging some true behind-the-scenes titans: Thom Bell’s Philly Soul magic, Carol Kaye’s bass virtuosity (seriously, name a ’60s hit — she probably played on it), and Nicky Hopkins’ keyboard brilliance.
Sure, some heavy hitters like Mariah Carey, Oasis, and Billy Idol will have to wait their turn. But hey, even in 2025, you can’t rush rock and roll immortality.
Mark your calendars for November 8, when the Peacock Theater in LA hosts what promises to be one hell of a show. In a nod to our streaming-obsessed times, you can catch it on Disney+ (who would’ve thought?), ABC, or Hulu — take your pick.
This isn’t just another year’s worth of inductees; it’s a snapshot of how rock and roll keeps shape-shifting, refusing to be pinned down. From Lauper’s technicolor pop dreams to Soundgarden’s grunge thunder, from OutKast’s genre-bending brilliance to Checker’s dance floor revolution — it’s all rock and roll, baby. And it’s all worth celebrating.
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