Rhona Bennett Leaves En Vogue After Being Left Out of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Performance

Rhona Bennett has announced her departure from En Vogue after more than two decades with the iconic R&B group, citing a communication breakdown that left her excluded from a major performance.

via: Rolling Out

Rhona Bennett announced her departure from En Vogue on Nov. 13, 2025, five days after the legendary R&B group performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony without her.

It was a moment of realization for Bennett when she found out about the historic Nov. 8 performance at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Fans had reached out, questioning her absence from the ceremony where En Vogue joined Salt-N-Pepa for their hit “Whatta Man.” Bennett, who had her own event scheduled the same day, was never informed about the Hall of Fame performance, a void that was deeply felt.

The 49-year-old singer, who joined En Vogue in 2003, described her decision as stepping into a new season of creativity, freedom, and contribution. Bennett has maintained a multifaceted career beyond her work with the group, including her role as founder of Personal Power University, an online coaching school, and as an author of several motivational books.

Snubbed by her own group

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony on Nov. 8 marked a milestone moment for hip-hop as Salt-N-Pepa, alongside DJ Spinderella, were inducted in the Musical Influence Award category. The trio performed a medley of their hits, including “Shoop” and “Let’s Talk About Sex,” before En Vogue joined them on stage. The performance celebrated both groups’ contributions to 1990s R&B and hip-hop.

Bennett’s absence became more significant when original En Vogue member Maxine Jones appeared at the ceremony. Jones had officially rejoined the group in February 2025, making her return at the NBA All-Star Game Halftime Show on Feb. 16. The reunion brought together Jones, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Bennett for what was initially promoted as a four-member configuration.

Jones, one of En Vogue’s founding members alongside Ellis, Herron, and Dawn Robinson, had left the group in 2001, returned briefly in 2012, and then left again. Her February 2025 return marked more than a decade since she last performed with the group. The return generated significant excitement among fans who had long hoped for a reunion of the original members.

Notable contributions to the group

Bennett’s 22-year tenure with En Vogue included contributions to the 2004 album Soul Flower and the 2018 album Electric Café. She briefly departed in 2008 when Robinson returned, but rejoined in 2012, becoming the group’s most consistent member alongside Ellis and Herron through recent years. The trio performed at high-profile events, including the 2020 Billboard Music Awards, the 2021 film Coming 2 America, and the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Beyond her group work, Bennett released her second solo album, Instant Classic, in November 2024 through her independent label Butterfly In Flight. The album featured singles “We (A Powerful Thing),” “Butterfly” and “All on You,” showcasing her work as both Miss RNB, the performer, and Coach Rho, the motivational speaker.

Bennett’s departure leaves En Vogue as a trio consisting of founding members Ellis and Herron alongside the recently returned Jones. The configuration mirrors the group’s original four-member foundation, with three of the four founding members now active.

The situation raises questions about whether Robinson, the only original member not currently with the group, might return. Robinson, who sang lead on En Vogue’s biggest hit “Don’t Let Go (Love),” has had a complicated relationship with the group, leaving multiple times since the late 1990s. She last performed with En Vogue in 2011.

A reunion of the original members?

With Bennett’s departure and Jones’ return, the path appears clearer for a potential reunion of all four original members. This possibility brings a sense of hope for the future of En Vogue, though Robinson has not indicated any plans to rejoin.

En Vogue has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and remains one of the top five highest-selling American female music groups of all time. The group’s signature hits, including “Hold On,” “Free Your Mind,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” and “Whatta Man,” continue to generate streams and views decades after their original release.

Bennett has announced plans to focus on her solo career and coaching work. Her departure marks the end of one of the longest continuous tenures by any non-founding member in En Vogue’s 35-year history.