Cher finally took her well-deserved place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night, a moment that was as powerful as it was overdue. The 78-year-old music icon was celebrated in Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in a night filled with memorable performances and heartfelt tributes.
The evening kicked off in spectacular fashion, with Dua Lipa joining Cher onstage to perform her timeless hit “Believe,” setting the energetic tone for the ceremony. As the audience cheered, Zendaya took the stage to formally induct Cher, delivering an emotional and thoughtful introduction.
“Where do I even begin?” Zendaya remarked, acknowledging the monumental impact of Cher’s career. She described Cher’s legacy as being just as iconic as her name, noting that Cher is the only woman to have achieved a No. 1 hit on the Billboard charts in every decade since the 1960s. “Cher has got the goods,” Zendaya added, before Cher electrified the audience with a powerful rendition of “If I Could Turn Back Time.”
Backstage, Cher was candid about her long wait for this honor. “I’ve had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the Rock Hall,” she admitted with her signature frankness, reflecting on the 35 years it took for her to be recognized. “I kept wondering what more I had to do to get in,” she said.
Despite the wait, Cher embraced the moment, calling it a victory for both herself and the women who have supported her over the years. Her speech focused on resilience and perseverance, particularly addressing women who have faced challenges. “We’ve been down and out, but we keep going. We are special,” she said passionately, drawing applause from the audience.
Cher’s induction was part of a night that also honored Mary J. Blige, Dionne Warwick, A Tribe Called Quest, and the late Jimmy Buffett. But it was Cher’s trademark humor that made her moment stand out. She even hinted at the possibility of Sonny & Cher being inducted one day, noting that while they weren’t the quintessential rock act, they “represented music in their own way.”
For Cher, a pioneer in music and culture, the honor may have come late, but it was no less sweet. As she put it with a smile, “I’m happy to be here. And I mean that.”
