The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 inductees, celebrating a diverse group of trailblazing artists across various music genres. The list of inductees includes hip hop icons Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa.
Also in this year’s Performer Category is pop icon Cyndi Lauper, grunge band Soundgarden, garage rockers The White Stripes, English rock band Bad Company, dance sensation Chubby Checker, and soulful singer Joe Cocker. Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon will receive the Musical Influence Award for their cultural contributions to music.
About OutKast
OutKast, the Atlanta-based duo of André 3000 and Big Boi, will be inducted in the Performer Category after their first nomination. Known for blending funk, jazz, and soul with hip-hop, OutKast played a major role in bringing attention to Southern rap in the mid-1990s.
About Salt-N-Pepa
Salt-N-Pepa, the groundbreaking all-female rap group consisting of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “DJ Spinderella” Roper, will be honored with the Musical Influence Award. This award is presented to artists “whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock & roll and music impacting culture.”
The Ceremony
The induction ceremony is scheduled for November 8, 2025, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. It will be streamed live on Disney+, with replays on ABC and Hulu.
Other notable inductees include Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, Soundgarden, Bad Company, Joe Cocker, and Chubby Checker. Additional honors include the Musical Excellence Award given to Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye, and the Ahmet Ertegun Award for industry professionals, which will be presented to Lenny Waronker.
This year’s class reflects the Hall’s commitment to recognizing influential artists across various musical landscapes. John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, noted that the inductees have each made a profound cultural impact and contributed to reshaping the course of rock music.
The 2025 induction marks the sixth consecutive year a hip-hop artist has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, highlighting the genre’s growing recognition and influence in the broader music industry.
For more information on the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees, visit the official Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website.
