Jack White delivers rare words from Meg White at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

Meg White fled the public eye after the White Stripes disbanded in 2011.

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  November 9, 2025 | 8:14pm
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for RRHOF)
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Jack White delivers rare words from Meg White at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction

Upon the group’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night, Jack White didn’t forget the other 50% of the White Stripes. After being introduced by “Uncle Iggy” Pop, Jack White shared some rare public remarks from his former drummer, Meg White, who hasn’t been seen publicly in more than a decade. “I spoke with Meg White the other day,” he said, “she’s very grateful to all the folks who supported her through all the years. It really means a lot to her.” But she isn’t just a great drummer. Meg’s also apparently a great editor. “She also helped me write all this,” he continued. “I sent these things to her. She checked it for me for a lot of punctuation and corrections. She’s pretty good at that.”

More surprisingly, Jack White delivered the first words from Meg White since the last episode of The Late Show With Conan O’Brien in 2009—if we don’t count the brief period in which the band reunited to sue Trump. Jack continues, “She said, ‘Do you remember, Jack? We used to walk around and animals, for some reason, would stare at us. They would stop and stare at us for some reason. Even at the Detroit Zoo, an elephant did the exact same thing one time.’ She just wanted me to tell you that.”

In addition to the delightful zoo story, Jack White also penned (with edits from Meg, we presume) a letter he intended to send to her, but instead read it to the ceremony attendees and those watching at home.

“One time, a girl climbed a tree, and in that tree was a boy—her brother, she thought. And the tree looked so glorious and beautiful, but it was just an oak tree,” White read. “And these two so loved the world that they brought forth a parade float—one they built in their garage behind the oak tree with their own bare hands. And the boy looked at this giant peppermint on wheels and felt pride, pride that it was produced in the Motor City, just like in the big factories, but it was just in their garage. He looked at the girl—his sister, he thought. And, like the Little Rascals, they said, ‘Let’s put on a show.'”

“And they paraded this float through the Cass Corridor, standing atop the peppermint pulled by white horses, or maybe it was a red Econoline van. Many of the blocks they traveled were empty, but some had people. And some of those people cheered, some laughed, and some even threw stones. And with their bare hands, the two started to clap and sing and make up songs.”

The White Stripes disbanded in 2011, and Meg left the public eye shortly after. In 2023, as part of the internet’s unending debate over Meg’s drumming, Jack posted a poem calling out the “demons, cowards, and vampires out for blood” who don’t know anything about drumming. That year, Meg declined a request for an interview from Elle, saying she had said “no” to so many requests that it wouldn’t be fair to say “yes” now.

Other 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees included Outkast, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, and Joe Cocker for the performance category; Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon, recipients of the Musical Influence Award; Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, and Carol Kaye, recipients of the Musical Excellence Award; and Lenny Waronker, recipient of the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

 
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