By Jordan Grim • November 09, 2025 • 04:02 AM (PDT)
By Jordan Grim • November 09, 2025 • 04:02 AM (PDT)
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame welcomed The White Stripes into its 2025 class, but the anticipated reunion of the iconic duo didn’t happen. Meg White, true to her reclusive nature, was not in attendance at the ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. However, her presence was deeply felt through the words of her former bandmate, Jack White, who accepted the honor on behalf of both of them, and punk legend Iggy Pop, who delivered the induction. The latest update on Meg White 2025 came directly from Jack White during his emotional acceptance speech.
Fellow Michigan rock icon Iggy Pop kicked off his induction speech by immediately praising the drummer. After singing a spontaneous snippet of the “Seven Nation Army” riff, Pop highlighted Meg White’s unique contribution to the band. He described her as a “timeless beauty” with the “most genuine and charming smile,” noting that “She slammed the drum kit with real force… Honestly, Meg’s presence felt like the spark that ignited Jack White’s wild, unstoppable sound.”
Pop also paid tribute to Jack White’s diverse musical skills, comparing him to early rock influences like The Who and The Beatles, while noting that Jack’s songwriting featured more melody and catchier hooks than most Detroit bands from the ’60s and ’70s.
Upon taking the stage, Jack White, addressing the punk godfather as “Uncle Iggy,” thanked the legendary rocker and immediately brought his bandmate into the room. He confirmed that Meg was not present but shared that he had spoken with her recently.
“I talked to Meg White recently, and she said she’s truly thankful for everyone who stood by her over the years. It really means a lot to her,” White stated.
He then shared a charming, random anecdote directly from her: Meg White wanted him to mention how animals, for some reason, used to stop and stare at them when they walked around, adding that “Even at the Detroit Zoo, an elephant did the exact same thing one time.” This lighthearted, personal moment brought laughter and a sense of her authentic spirit to the crowd. White also revealed that Meg had helped him with his speech, checking it for “punctuation and corrections.”
“Get your hands dirty and drop the screens and get out of your garage.” — Jack White, accepting The White Stripes’ Induction into the Rock & Roll of Fame.
📺 Check out the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony NOW on @DisneyPlus.#RockHall2025 pic.twitter.com/nlSutGZLcR— Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (@rockhall) November 9, 2025
The most unique and moving part of Jack White’s tribute was a poetic story he read aloud—a parable he wrote about the duo’s origins. He framed it as a story he had meant to send to Meg White, who would be hearing it along with the audience for the first time.
The story described a boy and a girl, whom the boy “thought” was his sister, climbing an oak tree. Out of love for the world, they built a parade float—a “giant peppermint on wheels”—in their Motor City garage. Like the Little Rascals, they decided, “Let’s put on a show.”
They paraded their float through the Cass Corridor, pulled by white horses “or maybe it was a RedVanLines van.” While some people cheered and some even threw stones, the duo started to clap and sing. The story concludes with them noticing a stranger smiling, and realizing, “it wasn’t just a stranger—it was God.” White ended his speech by simply saying, “My sister thanks you and I thank you,” cementing the touching, sibling-like theme of their bond.
The 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class also included acts like Soundgarden, OutKast, Cyndi Lauper, and Bad Company. The evening included tributes to The White Stripes’ music, with Olivia Rodrigo and Feist performing “We Are Going to Be Friends” and Twenty One Pilots delivering a bass-and-drums-only rendition of “Seven Nation Army.”