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Chubby Checker, known for his iconic hit “The Twist,” which topped charts globally in 1960, has finally been recognized by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Despite his eligibility since the Hall’s inception in 1986, Checker has only been nominated this year and successfully made it to the induction list.
Joining him as first-time inductees are Bad Company, Joe Cocker, and Outkast. Cyndi Lauper and The White Stripes, although previously nominated, have now also secured their places in the Hall, along with Soundgarden, which had two prior nominations. All seven acts are being honored in the performer category.
The announcement of the inductees was made by Ryan Seacrest during an episode of ABC’s American Idol on April 27.
In addition to the performers, there are six inductees being recognized in other categories this year. Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon will receive the musical influence award, while Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye are being honored with the musical excellence award. Lenny Waronker will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Regrettably, some honorees did not live to witness this recognition. Hopkins passed away in 1994 at the age of 50; Zevon in 2003 at 56; Chris Cornell of Soundgarden in 2017 at 52; and Bell in 2022 at 79.
Checker’s wait for induction surpasses even Cher’s, who was inducted last year—59 years after the significant hit “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher.
This year marks the sixth consecutive induction that includes one or more hip-hop acts, highlighted by the inclusions of Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa.
Additionally, this year continues the trend of female representation in the Hall, with Lauper, Salt-N-Pepa, Meg White from The White Stripes, and Carol Kaye all being inducted, marking the fourth straight year of four or more female performers being recognized.
Notably, Thom Bell won the first-ever Grammy for producer of the year in the non-classical category in 1975. Coincidentally, Waronker was one of the nominees in that same year and was also nominated for record of the year for producing “Midnight at the Oasis.” His impressive production credits include hits like Gordon Lightfoot’s “Sundown,” Rickie Lee Jones’ “Chuck E.’s in Love,” and Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.,” the latter performed by Dawes during this year’s Grammy ceremony.
At 90, Carol Kaye is the oldest inductee this year. Both Checker and Waronker are 83 but will soon celebrate their 84th birthdays before the induction ceremony.
Every artist in the performer category has achieved at least one top five album on the Billboard 200, with three reaching the coveted No. 1 spot: Bad Company with their self-titled album in 1974, Outkast with Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2003, and Soundgarden with Superunknown in 1994. Chubby Checker’s album Your Twist Party hit No. 2 in 1962, while Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs and Englishmen and The White Stripes’ Icky Thump both reached the same position in their respective years. Lauper’s albums She’s So Unusual and True Colors peaked at No. 4.
Both recipients of the musical influence award also made the top ten: Salt-N-Pepa reached No. 4 with Very Necessary in 1994, and Zevon peaked at No. 8 with Excitable Boy in 1978.
Lauper’s victory as best new artist at the 1985 Grammy Awards places her among a select group of previous winners who later achieved Rock Hall induction.
Outkast clinched the Grammy for album of the year in 2004 for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, while member André 3000 earned a nomination in the same category at this year’s Grammy awards for New Blue Sun.
Among the inducted acts, two are well-known duos: Outkast, featuring André 3000 and Big Boi, and The White Stripes, consisting of Jack White and Meg White.
Several nominees were not inducted this year, including Oasis and Mariah Carey, who notably received their second consecutive rejection. This was unexpected, particularly as Oasis prepares to reunite for a global tour in 2025, and Carey remains a prominent figure, especially during the Christmas season. Other artists who were overlooked include Joy Division/New Order, who were previously nominated in 2023, alongside newcomers to the ballot like The Black Crowes, Billy Idol, Maná, and Phish.
The voting body this year also overlooked brother acts, such as Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis and Chris and Rich Robinson from The Black Crowes.
Maná aimed to become the first rock en español band inducted into the Hall, while Joy Division/New Order sought to join the elite ranks of related groups honored together.
Phish, this year’s fan vote winner, has yet to achieve a hit on the Hot 100 but remains a formidable live performer, evidenced by their recent show at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Billy Idol, an influential figure in early MTV, voiced support for his collaborator Steve Stevens, indicating that should he be honored, Stevens would also be part of the recognition, similar to past inductee Pat Benatar’s honor for both her and her husband, Neil Giraldo.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is set to take place live on Saturday, November 8, at the Peacock Theater located in L.A. Live, Los Angeles. This year’s event will be streamed live on Disney+, with a later broadcast on ABC and availability on Hulu the following day. The previous ceremony aired on New Year’s Day.
Below is the complete roster of the 2025 inductees:
Performer Category
Bad Company
Chubby Checker
Joe Cocker
Cyndi Lauper
Outkast
Soundgarden
The White Stripes
Musical Influence Award
Salt-N-Pepa
Warren Zevon
Musical Excellence Award
Thom Bell
Nicky Hopkins
Carol Kaye
Ahmet Ertegun Award
Lenny Waronker
Source
www.billboard.com