CLEVELAND, Ohio - The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductions at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Saturday night were hot. Every bit as hot as the American League Championship Series baseball between the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees happening next door at Progressive Field.

Both venues had serious big-league sluggers delivering knockout performances.

The stars in the spotlight in Cleveland on Saturday night included 2024 Inductees Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest.

In the Musical Influence category, Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton were honored. For Musician Excellence, Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield were welcomed. The Ahmet Ertegun Award industry award was given to Suzanne de Passe.

There was a lot to take in Saturday night, but in our humble estimation these were among the best moments of the evening:

1. Cher. It's about time. Two great performances from a 78-year-old legend, along with a speech and tributes for the ages. It was glorious. We all should hope to be so spry at 78.

2. Tom Morello inducting the MC5 was bombastic. The Rage Against the Machine guitarist orates with the same rapid fire that he plays. A shame they didn't get in before Wayne Kramer died. I think he would have appreciated Morello's musicological insights. Note to the Rock Hall: can we get Mott the Hoople inducted while Ian Hunter is still with us?

3. Kool & the Gang being inducted by Chuck D. of Public Enemy, followed by a raucous medley that had the audience dancing all the dances and feeling all the feels. Robert "Kool" Bell (of Youngstown!) and company were THE party band back in the day. One of the most sampled groups in hip-hop, they were toasted by Usher, Lionel Richie and a roster of superstar talent. Bonus: Kool vocalist James "J.T." Taylor tearfully saying, "I made it to the Hall, Mommy!" and honoring those Gang members no longer on the mortal coil was incredibly touching.

4. A touching, tender moment between Rock Hall inductee Dionne Warwick and Jennifer Hudson. Their duet of "I'll Never Love This Way Again" and Warwick's own solo take of "Walk On By" delivered chills and goosebumps. Among her many accomplishments, Warwick bumped The Beatles out of the top of the charts. Teyanna Taylor gave the audience a wonderful re-introduction to the 83-year-old "Miss Dionne."

5. The supergroup of Sammy Hagar, Demi Lovato, Slash, Chad Smith and more powering through Foreigner tunes. Hagar's induction speech meandered a bit, but there was no denying his appreciation for the "tough but melodic," "faceless" band that many critics hated. Mick Jones' absence left the door open for current and former vocalists Kelly Hansen ("Hot Blooded") and Lou Gramm ("I Want to Know What Love Is") to perform with the current Foreigner touring band. That Gramm duet with Kelly Clarkson was poignant.

6. Dave Matthews delivering "A Pirate Looks at 40'' as a part of tribute to fellow Jimmy Buffett was haunting. Having James Taylor, Kenny Chesney (who owes much of his career to Buffett) and Mac McAnally toast him in a performance of "Come Monday" was touching. Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, which McAnally is a longtime member of, has vowed to keep the band's legacy going through touring.

7. Taylor's induction speech for Buffett was wry, witty and delightful - calling him "a poet and self-made man." He said "there will never be another," and he's right. Shame Buffett didn't live to see his induction with his own eyes.

8. Rare appearances. Julia Roberts inducting Dave Matthews Band. Berry Gordy (via video) inducting "pioneer" Suzanne de Passe, who discovered Jackson 5 and "projectile cried" when she got the news. Dave Chappelle inducting A Tribe Called Quest and bringing the late Phife Dawg's parents to the stage with them.

9. Speaking of Tribe, they were showered with a superstar tribute featuring Busta Rhymes, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Common and more. With The Roots!?! Can they kick it? Yes, they can! ATCQ and Rhymes were members of the Native Tongue hip-hop collective back in the 90s, which included Latifah, Monie Love, Jungle Brothers, and Rhymes' former group Leaders of the New School. Getting that "old home night" mega mix performance was epic.