Chubby Checker won’t be at his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The singer told the audience at a recent Illinois concert why he decided to opt of of the ceremony.
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“As you become an older person, you run into things that you didn’t run into when you were not an older person,” Checker told the crowd. “I told my manager, ‘Make sure when we go to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the induction, that I’m doing what I love doing the most, being in front of an audience. A live audience, not a television audience.’”
When the Hall of Fame called to invite Checker to the induction, he told them, “We’re not coming. We have a gig.” He said the organizers told him to “forget about” his gig.
“You never forget about a gig,” he responded.
Checker, who’s long been publicly disappointed by his Hall of Fame absence, went on to imply that he was offended by press announcements about the induction, many of which included his name as an after thought. He said he feared that, if he were to attend the induction, it’d be much of the same.
“Chubby goes to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They say, ‘He’s an old guy. He’s probably tired. He’s not doing anything. Maybe he has crutches. He’s coming to the Hall of Fame to get his little award and go back home,’” Checker said. “I said, ‘No. Let’s be doing a show… to show that I’m alive and well, and the audience is wonderful, and my dream is being fulfilled, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is happening all at the time same time.’”
Chubby Checker Accepts His Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction
The Hall of Fame was apparently OK with Checker’s decision. The singer was presented his trophy during the concert. Cameras from the Hall of Fame were on hand to film his acceptance speech.
“What a surprise! If I’m holding this, it means that Chubby Checker has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. How about that?” he said. “I thank all of my peers who have elected me, and all of my wonderful fans of all this time, I appreciate you so much.”
“The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I thank you for making me a member of the family,” Checker continued. “When I go through Cleveland in the car, I’ll think totally different than before, because a light has gone on in my life. When I’ll go through Cleveland, I’ll just be illuminated by all the good things that have happened to me in my lifetime.”
“The Twist” singer concluded, “I am so thankful. I appreciate it. I can’t say how wonderful it is that this has happened to me and I’m alive to enjoy it!”
The rest of this year’s Hall of Fame class—a group that includes Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes—will be inducted on Nov. 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
The 2025 ceremony will once stream live on Disney+, with a special airing on ABC at a later date and available on Hulu the next day.
Photo by Presley Ann/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
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