2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Recap: Best Moments

U2 crashed the Rock Hall ceremony, opening the show with a surprise two-song set a day after the release of their new album, Luz Carnival. The band wasn’t on the bill — they were inducted in 2005, their first year of eligibility — but they kicked off the night with “Silencio,” the album’s second single, joined by a line of performers dressed as riot police and carrying shields, then closed with 1984’s “Pride (In the Name of Love).” The two Hall of Fame veterans set the tone for an evening reserved for legends.

Trying to match Luther Vandross’ velvety vocals is a thankless task, but Usher was up for the challenge, paying homage to the R&B legend with a smooth medley of “So Amazing,” “Never Too Much” and “Here and Now,” a top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990. He captured the warmth of Luther’s voice, but Usher also made sure to let in his own dance moves for “Never Too Much” to make it his own. own.

Oprah Winfrey, friend and fan of Vandross, nodded to the swag Usher channeled for the performance in her induction speech, saying, “The New York Times called him the king of soul balladry. He has been hailed by critics as the Pavarotti of pop. Both are so true, but I think what may be more accurate is when Luther was named the best artist people had sex with.

Neither singer Sade nor her eponymous group were in the building for their Rock Hall induction, but the Nigerian-British icon was prominently featured thanks in part to an introductory package that included a highly glowing interview with Drake, with the Canadian rapper praising his “haunting” music and declaring, “There are no bad Sade songs.” »

Case in point: the band’s 1985 Hot 100 top five hit, “Smooth Operator,” which rising British star Sienna Spiro covered after an introduction from fellow Sade superfan Andra Day. “There will only be one Sade,” Day said – but fellow Londoner Spiro brought her own powerful vocals to the song to honor the absent superstar.

In one of the standout performances of the evening, Cynthia Erivo covered “In the Air Tonight” in honor of Phil Collins — who had previously been inducted into the Rock Hall as part of Genesis — and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker joined her for one of the most iconic drum breaks in all of pop music. It was a perfect illustration of the power of Collins’ career, between the excellent, haunting songwriting and the drum-driven production, and Erivo and Barker formed an electric duo.

Barker also gave a speech in tribute to Collins, speaking about his balance between playing in Genesis and his solo career: “He was not only successful in both areas; he was one of best to both.

In his own speech, Collins also put the drums center stage, noting, “I grew up wanting to play the drums. Everything else was a happy accident.”

Chris Rock gave the perfect introduction to Wu-Tang Clan, stating, “Wu-Tang didn’t leave Staten Island; they took it with them. He also added to their many slogans by saying, “Wu-Tang is for kids, Wu-Tang is forever, and now Wu-Tang is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.” »

All nine living members attended the ceremony, with the group paying tribute to the late rapper Ol’ Dirty Bastard throughout the ceremony. RZA had the longest speech of the group, while Method Man kept it light, saying, “I want to thank everyone who believed in us, including the Hall of Fame. And for everyone who didn’t, you can kiss my a- inductee.”

The group also took the stage for a medley including “CREAM” and “Wu‐Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit,” as well as ODB’s son Young Dirty Bastard taking over for his father on “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.”

Many headlines before Saturday’s ceremony focused on people who weren’t going to be in attendance, including the Gallagher brothers, previously at war and now back on tour. But You better call Saul Star Bob Odenkirk wasn’t too shocked by the news of Oasis’ withdrawal.

“Is anyone surprised they didn’t come?” Odenkirk asked the crowd, immediately adding, “They didn’t want to be here! It wouldn’t have been in character for them if they had. I would have worried about them.”

In his introduction, Odenkirk said he listens to their music to motivate himself before performing. Break the bad lawyer Saul Goodman. “I played Oasis songs every day before going on set. …If I needed that injection of swagger, of energy, of motivation, I needed a dose of Viagra for the ego.”

In Oasis’ absence, Stephen Wilson Jr. put a country-rock spin on his 1995 hit “Wonderwall.”

With Queen Latifah and MC Lyte inducted into the Rock Hall in the same year, it made sense that their paths would overlap, just as they did in the music industry as hip-hop pioneers.

MC Lyte was inducted first, with an introduction from fellow MC Remy Ma, while Megan Thee Stallion inducted Queen later in the night (with a conveniently placed crown atop her head). Both women shouted each other out in their speeches – and they also shouted out their respective sororities, to loud cries from the crowd. And finally, they took the stage together for a medley of their hits (with Meg and Remy), proving that UNITY still goes a long way to uplifting other women in a historically male-dominated genre.

“Thank you to my sisters in the name of hip-hop,” Queen said during her speech. “Thanks, MC Lyte. Without Lyte, I don’t know if I would have known it was really possible. But when I heard Lyte rapping, I was like, ‘Yo, what is this? I want to do that!” …And then we met, and we got along like sisters. We had so much fun doing what we love.

Much like his unpredictable career, Rick Rubin also had one of the most unexpected tributes of the evening. It started with a 10-plus minute monologue/stand-up from Neil Young as he led the crowd through Rubin’s winding work history and ended with a speech that made up for the rock legend’s verbosity.

“You can’t kill rock & roll,” Rubin said succinctly before quickly leaving the microphone.

But it was two musical performances that were Rubin’s true highlights. First, the Red Hot Chili Peppers — all hysterically sporting Rubin’s signature long hair and beard combo — took the stage to perform “Give It Away,” from the classic 1991 album produced by Rubin. Blood sugar sex magic. Then the show ended with Aerosmith and Run-DMC joining forces for Rubin’s brainchild “Walk This Way.” The pair of musically powerful but slightly offbeat sets sets the perfect tone to honor the yogi producer.

You can’t celebrate the New…