OS ANGELES, CA—The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, held on November 8, 2025, at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, was defined by a moment of quiet, intergenerational collaboration. Amidst a diverse class of inductees that included hip-hop pioneers OutKast and grunge legends Soundgarden, the evening saw pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo and indie icon Feist join forces to pay acoustic tribute to rock inductees, The White Stripes.
The duo performed a heartfelt rendition of the White Stripes’ 2001 track, “We’re Going to Be Friends,” a nostalgic, gentle song contrasting with the inductees’ signature garage-rock noise. The performance was lauded for its simplicity, featuring minimalist instrumentation that allowed the harmonious blend of Rodrigo’s youthful, vibrant vocals and Feist’s introspective warmth to shine through.
🌟 The White Stripes: A Legacy of Minimalism and Heart
The induction of The White Stripes, the Detroit duo of Jack White and Meg White, recognized their profound impact on the 2000s rock landscape with their raw, minimalist blues-punk sound. The band’s classic album, White Blood Cells (2001), is home to the sweet-natured tribute song.
Punk icon Iggy Pop delivered the spirited induction speech, hailing the duo as a “21st-century Adam and Eve” and specifically praising drummer Meg White for her “deceptively simple” drumming that powered “the rocket of racket that was Jack White.”
Jack White, accepting the honor in his famous red-and-white color scheme, dedicated the induction to his former bandmate and ex-wife, Meg White, who has maintained a highly private life since the band split in 2011 and was absent from the ceremony. Jack White affirmed that Meg had helped him craft his acceptance speech, and he concluded with an emotional poem he had written about their artistic beginnings, emphasizing their unique, sibling-like bond and creative partnership.
🤝 Bridging the Eras: Rodrigo and Feist’s Inspired Duet
The collaborative spirit of the evening was perfectly encapsulated by the Rodrigo and Feist pairing.
- Olivia Rodrigo (age 22 at the time of the ceremony), a multiple Grammy winner known for her critically acclaimed albums Sour (2021) and Guts (2023), has frequently expressed admiration for The White Stripes’ raw, DIY ethos. In a tribute video, she called their breakout hit, “Seven Nation Army,” “the most iconic song of all time” and credited the duo with proving “that you don’t need a lot of frills to make music that moves people.”
- Feist, the Canadian singer-songwriter behind the breakthrough album The Reminder (2007), brought her distinct indie-folk sensibilities, creating an intimate, acoustic soundscape.
Their performance of “We’re Going to Be Friends” was particularly resonant, as it was the very song The White Stripes performed in their final public appearance on the final episode of Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 2009.
Other notable tributes to the newly inducted rock legends included a high-energy cover of “Seven Nation Army” by rock duo Twenty One Pilots, ensuring that both the gentle and anthemic sides of The White Stripes’ discography were honored. The entire star-studded ceremony was broadcast live and is available to stream on Disney+.
@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 ❤️