The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation pulled back the curtain on its 2025 Inductees – a powerhouse lineup of trailblazers, icons, and music legends who have shaped the ever-evolving sounds of Rock & Roll. This year’s announcement sets the stage for an unforgettable celebration of music’s highest honor. Both Salt-N-Pepa and Outkast have made the cut.

“Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of Rock & Roll forever,” said the Hall of Fame’s chairman John Sykes.

“Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

For Salt-N-Pepa, This monumental achievement recognizes their unparalleled contributions to music, culture, and the empowerment of women in hip-hop.

Salt-N-Pepa, comprised of Cheryl “Salt” James, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, and Deidra “Spinderella” Roper, emerged as a groundbreaking force in the late 1980s and early 1990s, redefining the music industry with their infectious beats, bold lyrics, and fearless confidence. They shattered barriers as one of the first all-female rap groups to achieve mainstream success, creating a path for future generations of hip-hop artists and proving that women could dominate in a male-dominated industry.

With anthems like “Push It,” “Shoop,” “Let’s Talk About Sex,” and “Whatta Man,” Salt-N-Pepa not only topped global charts but also sparked critical discussions about love, relationships, and empowerment. Their fearless approach to addressing taboo topics, combined with their ability to seamlessly blend hip-hop and pop, earned them widespread acclaim, numerous awards, and an enduring legacy in the music world.

 

Salt-N-Pepa’s influence extends far beyond their music, inspiring conversations about representation, equality, and the power of women in entertainment. Their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame cements their place not only in music history but also as cultural icons who have left an indelible mark on the world.

For Outkast, When much of hip-hop’s attention in the mid-1990s was focused on the west coast vs. east coast rivalry, The Atlanta duo turned heads in a completely new direction: towards the South. The groundbreaking pair made up of Big Boi and André 3000 released its debut album in 1994, when they were still teenagers, and marked Atlanta as an epicenter of musical innovation with albums like ATLiens, Aquemini and the Grammy-winning Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.

 

Over the last few years, the Hall has been admitting one hip-hop act each year — A Tribe Called Quest last year, Kool Herc, Missy Elliott and Eminem and LL Cool J before that. But the Rock Hall isn’t the only pop music institution who has failed to adequately reward the genre: In the 21 years since OutKast took the prize, no other rap album has won the album of the year prize at the Grammys. OutKast has been eligible since 2019. The group received its first nomination this year.

Here’s the entire list of 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

The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be live on Saturday, November 8th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The 2025 ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+, with a special airing on ABC at a later date and available on Hulu the next day.

“Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of Rock & Roll forever,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”

The Inductees were announced live on ABC this evening by Ryan Seacrest during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode of “American Idol,” where the Top 14 American Idol finalists took on songs from legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees as America voted live for the Top 12. 

To be eligible for induction, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Bad Company, and Outkast are first-time nominees, whereas Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes have all been nominated before.

The Induction categories include:

• Performers: artists who have created music whose originality, impact, and influence has changed the course of rock & roll.
• Musical Influence Award: artists whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock & roll and music impacting culture.
• Musical Excellence Award: given to artists, musicians, songwriters, and producers whose originality and influence have had a dramatic impact on music.
• Ahmet Ertegun Award: non-performing industry professionals who have had a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted culture.

Ticket on-sale information will be announced at a later date. Select Rock & Roll Hall of Fame donors and members receive exclusive Induction ticket opportunities. Donate or join by June 30 to be eligible.

About The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Born from the collision of rhythm & blues, country, and gospel, rock & roll is a spirit that is inclusive and ever-changing. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates the sound of youth culture and honors the artists whose music connects us all. We share stories of the people, events, and songs that shape our world through digital content, innovative exhibits, live music, engaging programs, and our annual Induction Ceremony. We intentionally foster an inclusive and welcoming non-profit Museum that encourages and embraces creativity and innovation. As a community leader, we value, empower, and respect all people. Join the millions who love rock & roll as much as you do.