In a video shared on Instagram, Chappell Roan expressed her excitement and gratitude at being chosen for the honour. “She has inspired me with her fashion and her hair, and of course, her makeup, her music,” Roan said. “I actually auditioned with ‘True Colors’ for America’s Got Talent when I was 13. I didn’t make it, but the song is still incredible. I’m so excited, thank you for having me.”
Known for her flamboyant visuals and unapologetic pop persona, Roan has often cited Lauper as one of her formative influences. Her induction speech will not only celebrate Lauper’s groundbreaking career but also highlight how her message of self-acceptance continues to resonate with a new generation of artists.
The connection between the two feels deeply personal and symbolic. Cyndi Lauper, now 71, has long been a pioneer for LGBTQ+ advocacy and artistic freedom, while Chappell Roan, 26, has emerged as one of today’s most fearless new pop voices, blending camp aesthetics with emotional depth. Their shared love of colour, performance, and theatricality bridges a generational gap in pop culture.
Lauper herself has previously spoken warmly of Roan’s rise. “I think she’s really great,” she told SiriusXM’s Fierce: Women in Music. “There’s a lot of great young artists, I think she’s really great. And when she had the long red hair, I was laughing because I wore a very long red wig when I did the Berlin Wall. And then I did again when I did a tour, I had a very long red wig. I was laughing because I saw her on the horse with the long red wig. I was like, ‘That’s really good. I like it myself.’”
She went on to praise Roan’s openness about her identity. “She is LGBTQ, and for me, I’m friend and family [to the community],” Lauper said. “I don’t think you should ever stand by and allow that kind of discrimination and prejudice against a community ever.”
Their mutual admiration now comes full circle, as Roan will take the stage to induct Lauper during one of the music industry’s most prestigious nights. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at L.A.’s Peacock Theater.
The event promises a star-studded evening, with performances and appearances from Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Elton John, Beck, Brandi Carlile, Missy Elliott, Taylor Momsen, Teddy Swims, Questlove, Twenty One Pilots, and The Killers, among others.
This year’s class of inductees includes Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, Joe Cocker, Chubby Checker, and Bad Company, with Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon recognised for musical influence, Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye for musical excellence, and Lenny Waronker receiving the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
For both Roan and Lauper, the moment is more than ceremonial — it’s a celebration of creativity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of pop rebellion. In her own words, Lauper once said, “You’ve got to find what makes you unique and let it shine.” And now, as Roan steps up to honour her hero, that same light continues to shine brighter than ever.
