The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held on November 8, 2025, at the Peacock Theater (formerly the Kia Forum) in Los Angeles, was a vibrant tribute to musical pioneers. Among the honorees were the Detroit duo The White Stripes, whose raw garage rock sound redefined the early 2000s rock landscape. A standout moment of the evening was an inspired collaboration between pop star Olivia Rodrigo and indie folk artist Feist, who delivered a touching acoustic performance of the band’s nostalgic track, “We’re Going to Be Friends.”
A Whimsical Tribute to Garage Rock Legends
The induction of The White Stripes—composed of Jack White and Meg White—recognized their enormous influence, particularly following the release of their 2001 breakthrough album, White Blood Cells. This album, which brought them international fame, features the deceptively simple acoustic song “We’re Going to Be Friends,” known for its innocent lyrics about childhood camaraderie.
Taking the stage after an emotional acceptance speech from Jack White (who dedicated the honor to the absent Meg White), Rodrigo and Feist stripped the song down to its core. Their performance was a showcase of intergenerational connection:
- Olivia Rodrigo, the 22-year-old pop powerhouse known for her raw emotional depth on albums like Sour (2021) and Guts (2023), provided youthful energy and earnest vocals. Rodrigo, a self-professed White Stripes fan who has called Jack White her “hero,” praised their DIY ethos, noting in a pre-tribute video that they “proved to the world that you don’t need a lot of frills to make music that moves people.”
- Feist, the Canadian singer-songwriter lauded for her 2007 breakout album The Reminder, added a complementary layer of introspective warmth and signature ethereal vocals.
The acoustic duet, marked by harmonious vocals and minimal staging, emphasized the song’s storytelling, creating a moment that was both reverent to the original artists and freshly poignant. .
Broader Context and Notable Events
The White Stripes’ induction was presented by punk icon Iggy Pop, who famously led the audience in a roaring chant of the band’s global hit, “Seven Nation Army.” Iggy Pop praised the duo as “a 21st-century Adam and Eve who started a rock and roll band,” highlighting Meg White’s “deceptively simple” drumming as the power source for their racket.
The night featured other significant tributes to The White Stripes’ raw sound, including an energetic cover of “Seven Nation Army” by the duo Twenty One Pilots.
The ceremony as a whole celebrated a diverse class, with other inducted artists including hip-hop legends OutKast, rock powerhouse Soundgarden, pop-rock icon Cyndi Lauper, and the influential rap duo Salt-N-Pepa. OutKast’s reunion performance and Cyndi Lauper’s all-female tribute were among the other highly celebrated events, further cementing the Hall’s mission to bridge genres and eras.
Fans can stream the full 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Disney+, with a special broadcast also scheduled to air on ABC.
@multi.b99 Olivia Rodrigo and Feist performing “We’re Going to Be Friends” at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame #oliviarodrigoedit #oliviarodrigo #fyp #rockhall2025 @livies hq ❤️