The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will open the books for seven performing inductees in 2023 including country legend Willie Nelson, rock icons Rage Against The Machine, singer-songwriter Kate Bush, and more. The list of artists headed to the Rock Hall in Cleveland also includes Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, and The Spinners.
Additionally, the Hall will bestow a number of special awards that grant the same induction status as the performers chosen by the hall’s general voting body of 1,200. These include producer DJ Kool Herc and rockabilly guitarist Link Wray who will receive the Musical Influence Award; singer Chaka Khan, Blood, Sweat & Tears founder Al Kooper, and Elton John lyricist Bernie Taupin will take the Musical Excellence Award; and Soul Train host Don Cornelius who will bring home the Ahmet Ertegun Award. The ceremony returns to New York City’s Barclays Center on November 3rd. The hall’s media contract with HBO expired following the pre-recorded broadcast of last year’s ceremony, so a new media partner is expected to be announced soon.
Wednesday’s announcement comes as a belated birthday president for country icon Willie Nelson, who over the weekend celebrated his 90th birthday with a two-day blowout at Hollywood Bowl. The star-studded event featured guest appearances by everyone from Bob Weir to Snoop Dogg, the elusive Sturgill Simpson and Neil Young, Billy Strings, and many more. Moreover, Nelson’s induction follows in the footsteps of Dolly Parton last year, appearing to break open the barrier for the Rock Hall to begin inducting pillars of country music.
“It’s long overdue,” John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and president of iHeart, told Variety. “And I think Dolly Parton getting inducted last year opened up the eyes of a lot of our voters to understand that country is a part of rock ‘n’ roll right next to gospel and rhythm and blues. I think that also shined a light on the incredible contributions that Willie’s made in, what, 98 records that he’s made over the years. So it was great to see him get so many votes from the body of 1,200 voters. Now, remember, Hank Williams, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, they’re all in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, but there was I think a long dearth of country artists that contributed to rock ‘n’ roll that had gone unnoticed before we’ve seen two iconic country artists get recognized in the last two years.”
The acts that didn’t make the cut for 2023 induction include A Tribe Called Quest, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon.
This year’s induction class also continues an ongoing emphasis on recognizing the women who have shaped rock music and beyond. In that same vein, Missy Elliott signifies the third hip-hop artist in a row to be voted in their first year of eligibility, following Eminem and Jay-Z the previous two years. Conversely, after appearing on the ballot four previous times, RATM finally made the cut. Bush and The Spinners were also turned down for induction three times before. Though, Bush had a little extra push this year after Netflix‘s Stranger Things made her 1985 single “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)” its own cultural moment in 2022.
“She’s been nominated many times, so the nominating committee was very happy that the general ballot voted Kate in this year,” Sykes said. “Sometimes it takes a major moment like Willie’s 90th birthday or, in the case of Kate Bush, music being played in Stranger Things to shine a light on them for a lot of younger people who didn’t know who she was in 1985; they probably weren’t even born yet.”
As for the award categories that select recipients by special committee rather than general voting, the Hall used this opportunity to finally recognize Chaka Khan after the Rufus singer was turned down seven previous times on the ballot.
“That’s exactly what it’s about,” Sykes contends. “Because if someone’s been nominated so many times, but there’s a disconnect between the nominating committee and the general ballot, after it’s been five or six times, then we realize that there’s such a strong belief in them by the nominating committee that we can honor them. And if you look at those artists who’ve gotten in, they’ve had some of the most powerful moments in the induction ceremony, from LL Cool J to Judas Priest — and I’m sure this year Chaka Khan will give an incredible performance.”
Check out the full list of 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees below.
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