Chappell Roan Lauds Cyndi Lauper at Rock Hall Induction for ‘Showing Us You Can Be Bold, Quirky, Loud, Glamorous and Have Any Hair Color You Want’

A powerful generational torch-passing occurred at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles, where pop sensation Chappell Roan—the artist known as the "Midwest Princess"—bestowed the honor upon the legendary Cyndi Lauper. Roan delivered a heartfelt speech, detailing her teenage admiration for Lauper and praising her as a steadfast, vocal champion for the LGBTQ community. "Cyndi embodies the artist I hope to become," Roan declared. "She is an electrifying live performer, a pioneering songwriter, a style icon, and a courageous activist who has always remained true to herself."

Roan recounted a pivotal moment from her adolescence: performing Lauper’s "True Colors" at a Missouri talent show when she was 14, which marked her first-ever win in a singing competition. She reflected on how the song has since become a global anthem of inclusion and affirmation. Later in the evening, Lauper performed the same track, her rendition accompanied by the stunning unfurling of a massive vertical rainbow Pride flag—a symbolic gesture that visibly moved the audience. Music historian Dr. Elena Vance observed, "Such symbolic acts at major ceremonies do more than commemorate; they connect generations and cement an artist’s social impact in the cultural consciousness."

Accepting her induction, Lauper began with her signature humor, joking, "See what happens when you let the riff-raff in?" She paid tribute to her "badass female band," which for this occasion included special guest drummer Gina Schock of the Go-Go’s—the groundbreaking all-female band inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2021. Lauper positioned herself within a vital lineage of women in rock, asserting, "I stand on the shoulders of the women who came before me, and my own shoulders are strong enough to hold up those who come next." She concluded with a note of optimism, stating, "the little kid in me still believes rock ‘n’ roll can save the world."

Roan also traced Lauper’s journey from performing in cover bands to the explosive success of her 1983 debut, 'She’s So Unusual'—a landmark album that earned Lauper the Grammy for Best New Artist and left an indelible mark on pop culture. Roan highlighted era-defining singles like the feminist anthem "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," the timeless ballad "Time After Time," and the boldly candid "She Bop." Beyond music, Roan lauded Lauper’s advocacy, citing her Senate testimony in support of LGBTQ rights and her co-founding in 2008 of True Colors United, a nonprofit tackling homelessness among LGBTQ youth. This organization continues its vital work today, addressing the disproportionate rates of housing insecurity faced by this community.

In her closing, Lauper described rock 'n' roll as a "rich, varied tapestry woven from many musical traditions" that profoundly influenced her own artistic journey. She called on the audience to unite for positive change, urging, "Let’s come together again and do good in the world—it needs us." After quipping that the rock world once saw her as "a little crazy," she expressed approval that the Hall is now "bringing women back in," ending her speech with a triumphant, "Long live rock ‘n’ roll." The evening served as a moving tribute to an icon whose authentic artistry and lifelong activism have inspired countless artists and fans for over four decades.