The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies are always a spectacle, but the 2025 edition, held in early December, will be remembered for its mix of celebration, tributes, and poignant absences. The night was marked by unforgettable performances, heartfelt remembrances, and the enduring power of music to bring together legends, friends, and fans—even when fate kept some icons away from the stage.
One of the most talked-about stories leading up to the ceremony was the absence of Paul Rodgers, the iconic frontman of Bad Company. Just days before the event, Rodgers took to Instagram to break the news to fans: he would not be able to attend due to health issues. "My hope was to be at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony and to perform for the fans, but at this time I have to prioritise my health. I have no problem singing, it’s the stress of everything else. Thank you for understanding," he wrote, as reported by Far Out Magazine.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for Rodgers, who had been looking forward to the event. In a candid interview with Rolling Stone Brazil after the ceremony, he revealed the gravity of his condition: “About a week prior to leaving for rehearsals for the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame induction and TV show, my blood pressure was very high and I started to have chest pains and heart palpitations.” His doctor’s orders were unequivocal—no flying, rest, and calm. Reflecting on the decision, Rodgers told the magazine, “I saw my doctor, who absolutely forbid me to get on a plane. He recommended that I stay home, rest and remain calm, and I feel that I dodged a bullet by doing that.”
Rodgers, now 75, is no stranger to health scares. He has survived 11 transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and three major strokes, the most recent in 2024. “It’s hereditary, runs in my family unfortunately. My father passed at 60, likely due to a stroke. I’m 75, so I’ve had a lot more life than he did,” he shared with Forbes in June. These experiences have led him to embrace what he calls the “zen phase” of his life: “I am in the zen phase of my life and enjoy being immersed in a peaceful and calm life. I can sing again and play daily to a crowd of one.”
Despite Rodgers’ absence, Bad Company’s moment in the spotlight was anything but diminished. Drummer Simon Kirke took the helm, joined by a star-studded lineup including Bryan Adams, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, Nancy Wilson from Heart, and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. The group delivered rousing renditions of Bad Company’s biggest hits, electrifying the crowd. The evening’s honors were bestowed by none other than Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood, who inducted Bad Company into the Hall of Fame.
The ceremony was not just about the living legends—it was also a time to remember those who have passed. Sly Stone, the revolutionary funk and soul pioneer, died on June 9, 2025, at the age of 82 from lung disease and other underlying health issues, according to a family statement. The Hall of Fame paid tribute to his legacy in grand style. Stevie Wonder, himself a music legend at 75, opened the night with a medley of Sly and the Family Stone’s greatest hits: “Dance to the Music,” “Everyday People,” and “Thank You.”
Wonder’s performance was nothing short of mesmerizing. As described by The Music Man, fans were “awed that 60 years after his industry debut, no one could do it like him.” The energy soared even higher when Jennifer Hudson joined Wonder onstage, unleashing her powerhouse vocals on “I Want to Take You Higher.” The duo’s chemistry was palpable, with Hudson’s closing high note described as an “air raid siren” that “totally brought the house down.” The tribute was further enriched by appearances from Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beck, Questlove, Maxwell, and Leon Thomas—an all-star lineup befitting Sly’s lasting influence.
Sly and the Family Stone’s impact on music is hard to overstate. Their late 1960s and 1970s run of hit records defined the sound of funk and soul, paving the way for artists like Prince and Rick James. Their music was heavily sampled in hip hop and beyond, with acts like Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Beck drawing inspiration from their grooves. The Hall of Fame tribute underscored just how deep and wide Sly’s influence runs, even decades after the band’s heyday.
The ceremony also featured a moving nod to another beloved figure: Jimmy Buffett, who was posthumously inducted into the Hall in 2024. During a December 2 appearance on Howard Stern’s radio show, Kenny Chesney shared a remarkable behind-the-scenes story from Buffett’s tribute. He, James Taylor, and Mac McAnally performed Buffett’s classic “Come Monday”—but there was a secret onstage. According to Chesney, “We were backstage warming up, trying to figure out our parts and stuff, and Mac comes up to me and he goes, ‘Look at this.’ And it was a small urn. And he had Jimmy’s ashes in his coat pocket. So Jimmy’s ashes were in Mac McAnally’s coat pocket on stage with us as he was getting inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So even after he passed, Jimmy found a way to join the party.” As reported by People, Buffett’s daughter Savannah had entrusted McAnally with the ashes, ensuring her father’s presence at his own celebration.
These stories—of resilience, remembrance, and the unbreakable bond between musicians and their fans—defined the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. For every absence, there was a tribute. For every loss, a celebration of legacy. The night was a reminder that rock and roll’s greatest stories are as much about survival and memory as they are about the music itself. As the final notes faded and the spotlights dimmed, the Hall of Fame’s latest chapter stood as proof: legends never truly leave the stage.
