Entertainment Music Rock Music Cyndi Lauper Was 'Thrown Out of Jazz School' for Playing Rock Music. Now She's a 2-Time Rock Hall Nominee (Exclusive) Lauper is among the artists nominated for potential induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2025 By Jack Irvin Jack Irvin Jack Irvin has over five years of experience working in digital journalism, and he’s worked at PEOPLE since 2022. Jack started in the industry with internships at Rolling Stone and Entertainment Tonight, and he worked as a writer for publications including Bustle, MTV News, Shondaland, L’Officiel USA, Ladygunn, Flood and PopCrush before joining PEOPLE. In his current role, Jack covers daily music news and has interviewed both up-and-coming and established artists including Dolly Parton, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Normani, Carly Rae Jepsen and Coco Jones. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 22, 2025 10:00AM EDT 2 Comments Cyndi Lauper. Photo: Charles Sykes/Bravo via Getty Could this be the year Cyndi Lauper gets inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? The "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" singer, 71, is among the artists nominated for potential induction into the Rock Hall's class of 2025, marking the second time her name is on the ballot after 2023. Lauper tells PEOPLE it's an "exciting" moment, but whether or not she gets in doesn't define her as an artist. "You know, I've been singing rock and roll most of my life, so I know I'm a rocker," she says. Mariah Carey, Billy Idol and Cyndi Lauper Among the 2025 Nominees for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Cyndi Lauper in June 1983. Terry Lott/Sony Music Archive via Getty Images "I even got in trouble several times in my life for not quitting the rock band. I got thrown out of a jazz school because I wouldn't quit that rock band," recalls the "Time After Time" singer, who performed as a member of Blue Angel before launching her solo career with 1983's She's So Unusual album. In addition to Lauper, other performers nominated for induction into the Rock Hall's 2025 class are Bad Company, the Black Crowes, Mariah Carey, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Maná, Oasis, OutKast, Phish, Soundgarden and The White Stripes. Last year, inductees included Mary J. Blige and Cher, among others, and the Grammy winner feels it's "exciting that more women are being acknowledged" by the organization. Cyndi Lauper, 71, Reveals Why She Won't Take a Break After Her Farewell Tour Ends (Exclusive) Cyndi Lauper in June 2023. Bruce Glikas/Getty "I am very much a believer that we all stand on the shoulders of the people that came before us, and we know that the people that come after us will stand on our shoulders," she says. "It's a whole musical chain, and everything affects your music." "I love the history of music. I love modern music. I love performance art, and performance, and a lot of color," adds Lauper. "But I'm excited, I'm grateful. And we’ll see what happens." The performer inductees will be revealed in late April. This year's ceremony will take place in Los Angeles in the fall. Lauper is currently in the midst of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour, and she recently announced a second North American leg set for this summer. Close Leave a Comment