Joan Jett Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Two Beatles members cheered on Jett's career milestone at the ceremony.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 7:15am

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In a recent interview, legendary punk rocker Joan Jett recalled the exciting "full-circle moment" when members of The Beatles, including Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, stood up and cheered as she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. Jett was inducted alongside her band The Blackhearts, over a decade after first becoming eligible.

Why it matters

Jett's induction into the Rock Hall was a significant career milestone, recognizing her influential role in the punk rock movement as a solo artist and as a member of the pioneering all-female band The Runaways. The presence of two Beatles members, who Jett had long admired, made the moment even more meaningful for the 67-year-old musician.

The details

Jett was inducted at the same ceremony where Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was recognized in the Musical Excellence category. This allowed Paul McCartney, Jett's longtime hero, to be present and witness her induction. When Jett took the stage to give her speech, McCartney and Starr were the first to stand up and start a standing ovation, which Jett described as a "full-circle" moment reflecting on her early days as a music fan.

  • Joan Jett and The Blackhearts were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on April 18, 2015.
  • Ringo Starr was also inducted at the same 2015 ceremony.

The players

Joan Jett

A legendary punk rock musician and the lead singer of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. She was previously a member of the influential all-female band The Runaways.

Paul McCartney

One of the founding members of the iconic rock band The Beatles, who was on hand to induct his former bandmate Ringo Starr at the 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.

Ringo Starr

The drummer for The Beatles, who was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category in 2015.

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What they’re saying

“It was kind of scary, just knowing you're gonna be in front of all your various peers and … people that have been doing that for a long time.”

— Joan Jett, Musician

“And it was interesting, because one of the first records I bought as a kid was Paul McCartney's album that had 'Maybe I'm Amazed' on it [his 1970 debut, 'McCartney']. And so … it just kind of ties things up, because when I went out on stage to give my speech, the first people to stand up in the front row were Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, and started a standing ovation. And I thought, 'Wow, that's really a full-circle kind of moment.'”

— Joan Jett, Musician

What’s next

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will continue to honor influential musicians like Joan Jett who have made significant contributions to the genre.

The takeaway

Joan Jett's induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with two of her musical heroes from The Beatles cheering her on, represents a remarkable full-circle moment for the pioneering punk rocker and highlights the enduring impact of her iconic career.