Fans of hip-hop, country, pop, funk, R&B and rock all have reason to cheer the 2023 class entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Soul Train┬аcreator Don Cornelius and the late George Michael will be inducted into the hall on Friday night in New York City. The ceremony is also streaming live for the first time on Disney+.
Also entering the hall are the Spinners, Rage Against the Machine, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Al Kooper and Elton John’s longtime co-songwriter, Bernie Taupin.
The ceremony in Brooklyn will feature either as presenters or performers Elton John, Brandi Carlisle, Dave Matthews, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, St. Vincent, New Edition, Stevie Nicks, Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Common, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Miguel, Queen Latifah and Sia.
There’s even speculation┬аthat John will sing some of the songs he wrote with Taupin.
Elliott becomes the first female hip-hop artist in the rock hall, which called her “a true pathbreaker in a male-dominated genre.” Taupin makes it into the rock hall 29 years after his writing partner.
Bush enjoying new wave of popularity
Artists must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before they’re eligible for induction. Nominees were voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals.
Bush was a nominee last year but didn’t make the final cut. She got in this year due to a new wave in popularity after the show Stranger Things┬аfeatured her song Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).┬аThe hall hailed her for “using lush soundscapes, radical experimentation, literary themes, sampling┬аand theatricality to captivate audiences and inspire countless musicians.”
Bush comes into the ceremony having broken three Guinness World Records, including becoming the oldest woman to reach No. 1 and the longest gap between No. 1s on the U.K.’s singles chart.
George Michael, who started┬аas a member of Wham! before becoming a solo artist, was cited for “paving the way for a generation of proud LGBTQIA+ artists, from Sam Smith to Lil Nas X to Troye Sivan,” and the 90-year-old Nelson was simply described as “an American institution.”
Crow was recognized for key songs in the 1990s musical canon┬аlike All I Wanna Do┬аand Every Day Is a Winding Road,┬аwhile Rage Against the Machine “forged brazen protest music for the modern world.”
The hall called DJ Kool Herc “a founding father of hip-hop music” who “helped create the blueprint for hip-hop.” And Chaka Khan was described as “one of the mightiest and most influential voices in music,” a “street-wise but sensual hip-hop-soul diva” who paved the way for women like Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu and Janelle Monae.
The Spinners became a hit-making machine with four No. 1 R&B hits in less than 18 months in the mid-’70s, including I’ll Be Around┬аand Could It Be I’m Falling in Love.┬аRock guitarist Wray was said to be ahead of his time, influencing Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Bruce Springsteen.
Cornelius, who died in 2012, was celebrated for creating a nationally televised platform for African American music and culture. He “became a visionary entrepreneur who opened the door тАФ┬аand held it open тАФ┬аfor many others to follow him through.”
ABC will air a special featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Jan. 1.
