Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inducts Phil Collins; Oprah Winfrey Makes Appearance

Phil Collins cried on stage and Oprah Winfrey made an unannounced appearance as the Rock & Roll Hall inducted its 2026 class on Nov. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

The ceremony brought together veteran rockers, rap pioneers, and pop icons, though several notable inductees stayed home.

Oasis skipped the event entirely, as Noel Gallagher played a London gig and Liam Gallagher declined to travel, telling fans on X that it was too far to go for just one night, according to The Boston Globe and Billboard. Iron Maiden missed the night due to an Australian tour, while Sade also sat out the ceremony.

U2 Performs Surprise Openers Before Phil Collins Enters the Hall

U2 opened the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony with a surprise performance of “Silencio” alongside riot-shield-bearing dancers before launching into their 1984 classic Pride (In the Name of Love), as detailed by Consequence of Sound. Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker then introduced Phil Collins, praising his dual stardom as both a drummer and a pop singer, according to Dayton Daily News.

Artists become eligible for the hall 25 years after their first music release. The 75-year-old English singer, songwriter and drummer Phil Collins entered the hall for a solo career that brought some of the biggest hits of the 1980s, having previously been inducted as a member of Genesis.

His mobility issues and other health problems kept him from performing, so he took the stage slowly using a pair of canes and cried at a huge ovation from a crowd that included his family.

“I grew up just wanting to play the drums,” Collins said. “Everything else has been a really happy accident. I can’t believe, when I look back, how life has gone.” He added that he has not been able to take the stage since 2022, but assured the crowd that they have not heard the last of him and said that he hopes his songs live on.

U2 opens the 2026 @rockhall induction ceremony in Los Angeles tonight. @U2 @u2songs pic.twitter.com/vLUbwa8vVQ

— Post by @Justin_Wilfon on X

Barker said that Collins delivered what he called “arguably the most badass drum fill of all time” on “In the Air Tonight,” a track later performed by Cynthia Erivo with Barker on drums, bringing the crowd to its feet, as reported by SFGATE.

Oprah Winfrey Honors Luther Vandross

Oprah Winfrey stepped onto the stage unannounced to induct the late R&B singer Luther Vandross, calling him “the maestro of the love song,” according to SFGATE. Vandross died in 2005.

“Luther Vandross sang with such passion and soul it could reach something deep inside that you didn’t even know needed to be reached,” Winfrey said.

Wu-Tang Clan Performs with Jazz Band After Chris Rock Introduction

Comedian Chris Rock introduced the Wu-Tang Clan, telling the audience that the rap collective rewrote industry rules without corporate backing, according to Dayton Daily News.

All 10 current members of the New York-based Staten Island hip-hop collective took the stage, delivering a memorable acceptance speech and a performance backed by a big jazz band that featured a musical medley of C.R.E.A.M., Method Man, and late member Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Shimmy Ya.

Queen Latifah and MC Lyte also entered the hall as Early Influence Award recipients alongside posthumous nominees Gram Parsons, Fela Kuti and Celia Cruz. Queen Latifah, a rapper from New Jersey, was inducted by Megan Thee Stallion.

MC Lyte, a trailblazing Brooklyn rapper in the late 1980s, became the first female rapper to release a full solo album, “Lyte as a Rock,” with hard-edged rhymes that brought a political consciousness growing in hip-hop at that time. Queen Latifah wore a leather crown matching her leather trenchcoat and tie.

“It’s difficult enough being a woman in hip-hop, let alone being a hip-hopper in the Rock & Roll Hall,” Queen Latifah said. Accompanied by Wu-Tang members and Public Enemy’s Chuck D dancing and rapping in the audience, Latifah and Lyte then joined forces on stage to deliver a medley of their hits, featuring Lyte’s Ruffneck alongside Latifah’s U.N.I.T.Y.

An edited broadcast of the ceremony will air on ABC and stream on Disney+ and Hulu on Dec. 8 and Dec. 9.

Additional inductees for the 2026 class included Billy Idol accompanied by his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens, Sade, Iron Maiden, and a rare joint induction for British rock bands Joy Division and New Order.

For non-performers, television star Ed Sullivan was honored via video montage with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for bringing foundational acts to American living rooms despite network segregation pressures. Meanwhile, the Musical Excellence Award recognized producers Rick Rubin, Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, and Jimmy Miller.

Red carpet festivities for the event were streamed live on YouTube, drawing an array of stars and special guests, while fans can visit a dedicated exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall museum featuring iconic artifacts, such as a jacket worn by Luther Vandross during his 1991-92 tour.