Overview

• Checker, 83, was eligible for induction since 1986 but only received his first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination and selection in 2025.
• At a July 27 show in Des Plaines, Illinois, he staged his own mock induction where Hall representatives handed him the trophy onstage.
• He instructed his manager to schedule a performance on Nov. 8 and told Hall officials “We’re not coming. We have a gig.”
• Past absences by inductees like Paul McCartney in 1988 and Axl Rose in 2012 highlight ongoing debates over representation and ceremony relevance.
• The Nov. 8 induction ceremony in Los Angeles will still stream live on Disney+ with next-day availability on Hulu despite Checker’s absence.