The night Taylor Swift made the Rock Hall feel like pop's biggest stage

The annual ceremony is all about celebrating icons, but the 2021 show proved there are levels to this.

Why it matters: Taylor Swift kicked off the Oct. 30 ceremony in Cleveland, bringing a level of youth appeal and contemporary relevance it hadn't yet seen.

Flashback: The inductions followed a 2020 ceremony that was canceled due to the pandemic and replaced with a prerecorded HBO special.

• The Rock Hall looked to return with a bang, adding Swift to an already star-studded lineup that included Jay-Z, Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters and Christina Aguilera.

State of play: Swift was scheduled to perform and induct singer-songwriter Carole King. Fans didn't have to wait long for either to happen.

• Swift strolled out at the onset in a stunning, sheer catsuit to sing King's "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow."

💭 Troy's thought bubble: The screams inside Rocket Arena were deafening. It was reminiscent of something you'd see at the Grammys or the MTV Video Music Awards in its heyday.

• I don't think the ceremony had reached such a level until that point.

What they said: "I grew up dancing around the living room in socked feet to the sounds of Carole's soulful voice," Swift said during her speech inducting King.

• "Her songs speak to the true and honest feelings that everyone has felt, is currently feeling or hopes to feel one day."

The bottom line: Swift's appearance began a strong relationship with the Rock Hall, which has showcased several of the pop star's artifacts in recent years.

• That relationship will likely culminate with Swift's induction when she's eligible in 2031.