John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, defended the Hall's name, asserting that 'rock and roll' encompasses a wide range of music genres.

Mike Gordon and Trey Anastasio of Phish expressed their gratitude for the nomination, viewing it as a validation from the mainstream music community.

American Idol airs live on ABC, with episodes available for streaming on Hulu the following day, and will feature both James Taylor and Jelly Roll providing mentorship.

Liam Gallagher of Oasis has previously criticized the Rock Hall, expressing disdain for the inclusion of pop artists like Mariah Carey, which reflects ongoing debates about the Hall's nomination criteria.

Phish emerged as the fan favorite in the voting process, concluding on April 21, 2025, with approximately 330,000 votes, surpassing runner-up Bad Company by about 50,000 votes.

Despite winning the fan vote, Phish's induction is not guaranteed, as the final decision will be made by a panel of over 1,200 music industry professionals.

This year's fan voting saw over two and a half million votes cast, which will be combined with ballots from artists, historians, and industry professionals to determine the inductees.

Chubby Checker has opted not to engage with the media regarding his nomination, leaving his fate to chance according to his manager.

This year's nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame include a diverse lineup featuring Bad Company, Mariah Carey, The Black Crowes, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Billy Idol, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Maná, Oasis, OutKast, Phish, Soundgarden, and The White Stripes.

In related news, Fantasia, the Season 3 winner of American Idol, will return as a guest mentor on the show, performing and guiding contestants during a themed episode celebrating iconic moments.

The Hall of Fame committee will review the fan votes and conduct their own voting process after the fan voting concludes.