Hollywood stars Julia Roberts and Zendaya bookended the recent inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, giving a little stardust to an eclectic lineup that included pop icon Cher, heavy metal’s Ozzy Osbourne, hip-hop soul queen Mary J. Blige, soft rockers Foreigner and 83-year-old soul icon Dionne Warwick.
It was a five-hour-plus show that also honored hip-hop trailblazers A Tribe Called Quest, punk pioneers the MC5, the effortless dance music of Kool & the Gang, the beach-bum tunes of Jimmy Buffett and the jam-band fusion of Dave Matthews Band.
Dua Lipa opened the show singing Cher’s “Believe” before the 78-year-old icon joined her onstage, giving way to Zendaya, who noted that Cher is the only woman to have a No. 1 hit on a Billboard chart in each of the past seven decades.
In her speech, Cher thanked her mother for instilling in her to always get back up after defeat. “I never give up,” she said. “I’m talking to the women — down and out, we keep going.”
Roberts helped induct Dave Matthews Band — she’s a self-avowed superfan and appeared in the band’s video for the 2005 single “Dreamgirl.”
The band then played “Ants Marching,” “Crash” and “So Much to Say.”
“We’re swimming in very deep water here,” Matthews said. He thanked the current and former band members and the bar owner who gave them a home in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Dr. Dre inducted Blige, who is credited with creating a completely new category of music — hip-hop soul. “When you listen to Mary, you understand you’re not alone in heartbreak,” Dre said.
Blige sang a mix of her hits, including “Love No Limit,” “Be Happy” and “Family Affair.” “Move with grace. Trust the journey,” she advised. “You are worthy.”
Chuck D inducted Kool & the Gang, saying “This is a long-due celebration.”
The Roots helped the band do a medley of hits that got the crowd grooving, led by Robert “Kool” Bell and longtime singer James “JT” Taylor.
Jennifer Hudson sang “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” and was joined by Warwick, who also sang “Walk On By.”
“I am so pleased to be here,” Warwick said. “I’m just going to say this and get off the stage: Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Dave Chappelle helped induct A Tribe Called Quest — Q-Tip, Jarobi, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and the late Phife Dawg. Chappelle said the group incorporated “jazz and soul in a way hip-hop had never seen.” Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, Common, the Roots and De La Soul were on hand to perform a medley of Tribe hits, including “Bonita Applebum,” “Scenario” and “Can I Kick It?”
Sammy Hagar introduced Foreigner. Hagar noted that Foreigner currently tours without any original members. Demi Lovato and Slash joined the touring Foreigner for “Feels Like the First Time,” and Hagar then took lead for “Hot Blooded.” Kelly Clarkson thrilled with a powerful “I Want to Know What Love Is,” but the arena erupted when original singer Lou Gramm joined her.
Roger Daltrey of The Who inducted Peter Frampton. “Peter has had the most amazing career of all time. It’s probably easier to name the people he hasn’t worked with than the people he has,” Daltrey said.
Frampton brought on Keith Urban to trade licks on “Do You Feel Like I Do” and showed why he is considered one of rock’s great guitarists.
This is the second time Ozzy has entered the Hall, the first time in 2006 with the seminal metal band Black Sabbath. A tribute band to the Prince of Darkness played “Crazy Train,” “Mama, I’m Coming Home” and “No More Tears.”
A TV special with performance highlights is scheduled to air Jan. 1 on ABC.