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Outkast, Salt-N-Pepa, Thom Bell Among 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
OUTKAST, SALT-N-PEPA, and the late producer-arranger THOM BELL are among the thirteen 2025 inductees into the ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME. The induction ceremony will take place on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8th, 2025, at the PEACOCK THEATER in LOS ANGELES, streamed live on DISNEY+, broadcast at a later date on ABC TV, and be available on HULU the next day.
Other inductees include CHUBBY CHECKER, JOE COCKER, BAD COMPANY, CYNDI LAUPER, SOUNDGARDEN, and THE WHITE STRIPES in the Performer category. WARREN ZEVON joins SALT-N-PEPA in receiving the MUSICAL INFLUENCE AWARD. Pianist NICKY HOPKINS and bassist CAROL KAYE will be honored with the MUSICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD.
The AHMET ERTEGUN AWARD for non-performing industry professionals will go to LENNY WARONKER, former WARNER BROS. RECORDS head, who signed PRINCE, R.E.M. and worked with MADONNA, RANDY NEWMAN, THE DOOBIE BROTHERS, PAUL SIMON, and GARY CLARK JR.
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME Chair JOHN SYKES said, “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. Their music gave a voice to generations and influenced countless artists that followed in their footsteps.”
OUTKAST, the ATLANTA duo of ANDRÉ “3000” BENJAMIN and ANTWAN “BIG BOI” PATTON, signed with LAFACE RECORDS, released six studio albums, and won six GRAMMY Awards.
SALT-N-PEPA will receive the MUSICAL INFLUENCE AWARD. CHERYL “SALT” JAMES and SANDRA “PEPA” DENTON, along with DJ SPINDERELLA, were the first female rap group to achieve gold and platinum status. They met while attending QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE and working at SEARS.
THOM BELL will be honored with the MUSICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD. Alongside KENNY GAMBLE and LEON HUFF, BELL helped create the PHILADELPHIA SOUND. He produced and co-wrote hits for the DELFONICS, the SPINNERS, the O’JAYS, and BILLY PAUL.
He also produced albums for DIONNE WARWICK, ELTON JOHN, and JAMES INGRAM. In 1974, he won the GRAMMY Award for Producer of the Year. BELL was inducted into the SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME in 2006 and the MUSICIANS HALL OF FAME in 2016. He passed away in 2022 at age 79.