This week, we celebrate a pop icon who’s always been more than just a hitmaker. Cyndi Lauper has been called eccentric, loud, unpredictable — but maybe that’s just another way of saying she refused to fit in.
Beyond the neon hair and playful videos, Lauper’s legacy runs deep. She’s been one of pop’s fiercest allies to the LGBTQ+ community — founding the True Colors Fund to end homelessness among queer youth, using her platform to champion equality long before it was common, and reminding generations that joy itself can be a form of resistance.
As we celebrate her long-overdue induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, we’ll trace her journey from outsider to icon — how she opened doors for artists who didn’t fit the mold, how her feminism shaped 80s pop, and how her voice — unmistakable, unfiltered, and full of heart — still rings out for everyone who’s ever felt different.
We'll hear music from Prince, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Chappell Roan, Santigold, Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, Janet Jackson, Robyn, and many more.
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