Music

The evening got off to an electrifying start with a salute not to a current inductee but to 1993 honoree Sly Stone, who died in June. Launching with the undeniable bass-heavy thump of 1967’s “Dance to the Music” courtesy of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and Stevie Wonder on vocals, the band, which also included Beck, Questlove and Leon Thomas III, then flowed into “Everyday People” with Maxwell, who also sang “Thank you (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” before Jennifer Hudson coming out for “Higher,” hitting ear-shattering high notes.  It set the bar almost impossibly high for any performance coming afterwards.

After an exhilarating performance of their ‘80s and ‘90s hits “Let’s Talk About Sex,” “Whatta Man” (joined by En Vogue”) and “Push It,” during the trio’s acceptance speech, Salt-N-Pepa’s Cheryl “Salt” James brought it back into the present by bringing up the group’s lawsuit, filed in May,  against Universal Music Group to regain control of their masters, alleging that the record company has not honored Salt N’ Pepa’s copyright clawback rights and has punished them by taking their music off streaming. “We’re in a fight for our masters that rightfully belong to us…After 40 years, our streaming music has been taking down from all streaming platforms because the industry doesn’t want to play fair,” she said, as the crowd cheered in support, before adding, “Salt-N- Pepa has never been afraid of a fight.”

Olivia Rodrigo may only be 22, but she’s proved an old soul when it comes to her love for music made before she was born. In her third time paying tribute to an inducted artist following Carly Simon in 2022 and Sheryl Crow in 2023, she returned this year to honor the White Stripes. In a video, she declared the duo’s “Seven Nation Army” “iconic,” before taking the stage to perform a lovely, harmony-filled version of the pair’s 2001 tune, “I Think We’re Gonna Be Friends” with Feist, trading verses and then singing beautifully together. Once she returned to her seat, she could be seen singing along to almost every performance.

Outkast’s Big Boi and Andre 3000 shared the stage for their acceptance speech, but, unfortunately, no musical reunion was forthcoming as only Big Boi participated in the musical tribute. But it was gloriously high-octane, nonetheless. Backed by a 13-piece band including a vibrant horn section, Big Boi and guests raised the roof as they ran through a medley of Outkast’s greatest hits, starting with “ATLiens,” where Big Boi was joined by J.I.D. A graceful Doja Cat joined for “Ms. Jackson before Tyler, The Creator bounced around the stage delivering a ferocious “Bombs Over Baghdad.” Janelle Monae turned the segment into a full-on dance party with “Hey Ya,” accompanying herself on an acoustic guitar, before Sleepy Brown joined for a group sing-along for “I Love the Way You Move” that had the crowd on its feet.

Sly Stone wasn’t the only past honoree given his own segment: Elton John took to the stage for a tender tribute to Brian Wilson, who was inducted in 1988 with his band, The Beach Boys, and who died in June two days after Stone. He recalled meeting Wilson in 1970 when he and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin went to his house. “We were scared sh-tless,” John said. “He was my idol. He influenced me more than anyone else when it came to writing songs on the piano. Throughout my career and my life, we became friends, we sang on each other’s records, we loved each other, and I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather pay tribute to.” Backed by Benmont Tench and Don Was, John then played a delicate, languid version of Wilson’s finest tune, Pet Sounds’ “God Only Knows.”

After being inducted by Chappell Roan, Cyndi Lauper provided the evening’s most emotional moment during the beginning of her performance. Singing “True Colors,” with the stage bathed in rainbow colors, she stopped the song and simply held her fist in the air in silence for at least 30 seconds in solidarity with the gay community. It as a stirring, heartfelt moment, before she asked everyone to turn on the lights on their phone, adding “there’s a community of light. Don’t forget that if it gets really dark,” before segueing into “Time After Time” with British singer RAYE. Her performance felt the loosest and the most relaxed of the night as she was joined by Avril Lavigne and then Salt-N-Pepa for a jubilant “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” In her acceptance speech, she thanked those who came before her. “I know that I stand on the shoulders of the women in the industry that came before me and my shoulders are broad enough to have the women that come after me to stand on mine,” she said, adding, “the little kid in me still believes that rock and roll can save the world.”

The presence of the artists inducted posthumously loomed large throughout the night, as David Letterman gave a moving tribute to his friend Warren Zevon and brought with him the blue electric guitar that Zevon gave to him 22 years ago after Zevon’s last appearance on Late Night with David Letterman. Zevon, who knew he was dying of lung cancer, told Letterman, “Take care of this for me,” Letterman recounted, before adding, “By god, tonight, it’s going back to work.” And sure enough it did, with The Killers’ Dave Keuning playing it on a solid version of “Lawyers, Guns and Money.” Jim Carrey, who was close to Cornell and eloquently described his intense affection for the band’s music during his induction of Soundgarden, even talked about not being able to look Cornell directly in his piercing blue eyes. Similarly, the members of Soundgarden sent their love to Cornell, with original bassist Hiro Yamamoto saying, “Chris Cornell, we are so missing you tonight on this stage.” Drummer Matt Cameron accepted the award “on behalf of the fans of our music and also the misfits, the loners and the interlopers who found comfort and solace in the layers and music of my hero and bandmate, Chris Cornell.” Guitarist Kim Thayil gave Cornell credit for his adventurous spirit. “If one of us ever hesitated sharing an idea, Chris would be the first to say, ‘Let’s just try it out.’ I miss him. I love him.” Bryan Adams inducted Joe Cocker with great fondness, recalled drinking “Joe Colas,” with him, a potent mixture of Coca Cola and rum that would quickly end any recording session.  

The members of Soundgarden were then joined by The Pretty Reckless’s Taylor Momsen, who has performed with the band a number of times over the last six or so years, for a howling, bone-rattling version of “Rusty Cage,” before Brandi Carlile joined for a driving take on their signature hit, “Black Hole Sun.” Like Momsen, Carlile has played with the band several times, including at a Cornell tribute concert in 2019. It wasn’t hard to imagine how great it would be to see the two women trade off lead vocals at a full Soundgarden show.

Even though Cocker was obviously not in attendance, there was never really any doubt that the evening would conclude with his induction if, for no other reason than to be able to close the night with “With a Little Help from My Friends,” the Beatles’ tune he made famous in 1969. Before the finale though, the Tedeschi Trucks Band were joined by Nathaniel Rateliff and Teddy Swims for rollicking, burly versions of “The Letter” and “Feelin’ Alright.” Then, Lauper, Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson and Bryan Adams (the latter two had taken part in the Bad Company tribute earlier in the evening), returned for the finale, which closed the evening on just the right note.