Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo to serve as 'American Idol' mentors for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame episode

(L-R) Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar attend the 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Microsoft Theater on November 05, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

By Jill Lances

April 07, 2026 at 10:30 am EDT

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are set to appear on this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame-themed episode of American Idol, airing April 13 live on ABC.

The pair, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, will perform on the show and serve as mentors to Idol's top 11 finalists, who will perform songs from previous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees.

The episode will also feature the live announcement of the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class.

This year's Rock Hall nominees include Phil Collins, Billy Idol, The Black Crowes, Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, New Edition, INXS, Iron Maiden, Melissa Etheridge, Jeff Buckley, Pink, Shakira, Luther Vandross, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey, Joy Division/New Order and Sade.

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