Chappell Roan paid public tribute to Cyndi Lauper after participating in Lauper’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8, 2025. In an emotional Instagram post the following day (November 9, 2025), Roan described Lauper as a foundational influence on her music, style and stagecraft.

Roan wrote that Lauper’s work has profoundly shaped her artistry — from fashion and vocal phrasing to movement and performance — and said she was moved to tears by the experience. She called Lauper “incredibly bold” and an artist she deeply admires.

While presenting Lauper with the honor at the ceremony, Roan underscored Lauper’s tireless advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community and reflected on the lineage of women in music: “I know that I stand on the shoulders of the women in the industry that came before me, and my shoulders are broad enough to have the women that come after me stand on mine… the little kid in me still believes that rock ’n’ roll can save the world,” Roan said onstage.

Roan also recalled a formative moment from her youth: winning a talent contest at age 14 after performing Lauper’s “True Colors,” a memory that helped her realize singing could be a future for her. She closed her post by thanking Lauper for paving the way for artists like herself and echoing the sentiment that rock & roll can be transformative.

For the ceremony, Roan honored Lauper’s visual legacy by wearing a crystal-adorned headdress and a newspaper-print skirt that nodded to outfits from the original “True Colors” video. On the red carpet, a brief interaction with TikTok creator Harry Daniels — who attempted to serenade her with a line from Roan’s recent Billboard Hot 100 hit “The Subway” — ended politely when Roan declined the impromptu performance.

Video from the event circulating online also shows a staff member asking photographers not to shout at Roan on the red carpet, warning they might otherwise refuse to appear; Roan is reported to have a Grammy and a rapidly growing profile. Billboard has reached out to her representative for comment.

The 2025 induction class included a range of honorees: Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Outkast, Soundgarden and The White Stripes were inducted as performers, while Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon were recognized in the musical influence category.

Roan’s post and her onstage remarks illustrated a throughline between generations of artists — a reminder of how trailblazers like Lauper continue to inspire new voices in pop and rock.

Read Roan’s Instagram post:
instagram.com/p/DQ2q4yhEq3U/

TikTok clip of the red carpet moment:
tiktok.com/@harry.daniels

Additional video circulating from the event:
x.com/COSMlCSYD/status/1987338910834229535

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