The Rock Hall celebrated its 40th anniversary with an exciting induction ceremony on Saturday night, Nov. 8, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. This year, the new inductees included iconic performers like Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, and the White Stripes. Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon were recognized for their musical influence, while Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye were honored for their musical excellence. Lenny Waronker from Warner Records also received recognition. If you missed the live event, don’t worry! An edited special will air on ABC on Jan. 1, 2026.
The ceremony kicked off with a tribute to Sly Stone. Stevie Wonder performed a heartfelt tribute, joined by Questlove from the Roots on drums, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers on bass, and Beck on guitar and vocals. The Rock Hall also honored Ozzy Osbourne, who was inducted both as a solo artist and with Black Sabbath. The in memoriam segment featured clips of the late Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson, along with a moving performance of “God Only Knows” by Elton John. Elton shared, “He was the one who influenced me more than anyone else when it came to writing songs on the piano.”
Another highlight was the induction of Soundgarden. Guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, and bass players Ben Shepherd and Hiro Yamamoto represented the late Chris Cornell, who passed away in 2017. Actor Jim Carrey inducted the band, recalling how he insisted they perform on “Saturday Night Live” in 1996. The Pretty Reckless vocalist Taylor Momsen, Chris Cornell’s daughter Toni, and Brandi Carlile joined Soundgarden for a special performance.
