The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation held its annual Induction Ceremony on October 19, 2024, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland in an unforgettable night of music and celebration. The Ceremony streamed live coast to coast on Disney+ that night, and is available to stream now.ABC will air a primetime special, “2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony,” featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, 7:00-10:00 p.m. CST, available next day on Hulu and Disney+.
Presenters and performers included Busta Rhymes, Chuck D, Dr. Dre, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Julia Roberts, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Lucky Daye, Mac McAnally, Method Man, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Slash, and The Roots.
“Every year the biggest names in music, film, and culture step onto the stage at our ceremony to pay tribute to the iconic inductees whose music has defined generations,” said John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “These are once-in-a-lifetime moments created that will be remembered forever.”
The Ceremony honored this year’s Inductees Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne, and A Tribe Called Quest, along with Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton for Musical Influence, and Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, and Norman Whitfield for Musical Excellence, as well as Suzanne De Passe for the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
A massive lineup of talent came together, bringing some of the biggest stars in the history of rock, pop, funk, R&B, and hip-hop together under one roof.
Sykes talked about the “attitude” of rock tying together the many sounds and performers onstage that night. A massive lineup of talent came together, bringing some of the biggest stars in the history of rock, pop, funk, R&B, and hip-hop together under one roof.
“The names and the faces of rock ‘n’ roll may have changed, but the attitude has lived on,” Sykes said at the beginning of the night’s festivities. “That’s rock ‘n’ roll.”
“This is where rock ‘n’ roll began,” Sykes said. “It all began right here in Cleveland, Ohio, with Alan Freed as the DJ that got it started.”
Dua Lipa was the first star to take the stage, setting the tone for a star-studded evening. Zendaya followed with a heartwarming introduction for Cher.
J.T. Taylor and Robert Bell of Kool & The Gang grooved to the band’s greatest hits — including “Jungle Boogie,” “Get Down On It” and “Celebration” — in a performance that got the room full of celebrities up and moving. It was a special moment for Bell, who grew up not far away from the FieldHouse with his brother and fellow Kool & The Gang member, the late Ronald Bell.
Hip-hop stars The Roots, Black Thought, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, and Common came together in a showcase after A Tribe Called Quest was inducted by comedian Dave Chappelle, featuring Queen Latifah on “Can I Kick It?,” Common on “Bonita Applebum” and Busta Rhymes, of course, on his hit song with A Tribe Called Quest, “Scenario” — the song that helped to launch the rapper’s career. All the while, the Roots jammed in the background.
This year’s show was produced and directed by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions, and the executive producers John Sykes, Joel Peresman & Joel Gallen.
For more information on the 39th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, visit rockhall.com.
