From Willie Nelson to Missy Elliott, Meet the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

by

The 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is shaping up to be a landmark celebration of music history.

On Wednesday, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation unveiled this year’s class of inductees, honoring a wide-ranging group of artists whose influence spans generations and genres. Joining the Hall in the performer category are Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and The Spinners.

In addition to the performer honorees, DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will receive the Musical Influence Award, recognizing their lasting impact on the evolution of modern music. Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin will be presented with the Musical Excellence Award. The prestigious Ahmet Ertegun Award — reserved for non-performing industry figures who have significantly shaped music culture — will be awarded to Don Cornelius, the visionary creator of Soul Train.

“This year’s incredible group of inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock & roll,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, in a press release. He also noted that the ceremony coincides with two major cultural milestones: Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday and the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop.

Rage Against The Machine Press Shoot, London 01/01/1992 (Sony Music Archive via Getty Images/Mark Baker); American soul vocal group, The Spinners (aka The Detroit Spinners), 1977. Standing, left to right: Billy Henderson and Jonathan Edwards. Seated, left to right: Pervis Jackson, Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough. (Photo by Pictorial Parade/Hulton Archive/Getty Images); (MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Kate Bush relaxing in a hotel room, Tokyo, June 1978. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images)

The list of nominees for 2023 featured an impressive roster, including Cyndi Lauper, Iron Maiden, Soundgarden, A Tribe Called Quest, Warren Zevon, The White Stripes, Joy Division/New Order, and others. Missy Elliott and The White Stripes were nominated in their first year of eligibility, while Crow, Michael, Nelson, Lauper, Zevon, and Joy Division/New Order received their first-ever nominations.

Speaking with PEOPLE earlier this year at the American Heart Association Red Dress Collection Concert in New York City, Crow shared her disbelief at the recognition. “I’m still a little bit in shock,” she said. “It feels like I’ve been nominated for an Oscar for a 30-year movie. It’s really cool. I’m really honored.”

Last year’s performer inductees included Lionel Richie, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Eminem, Eurythmics, and Carly Simon.

The 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place Friday, November 3, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: Chaka Khan visits SiriusXM Studios on October 25, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Santiago Felipe/Getty Images); HOLLYWOOD- MAY 11: Al Kooper is inducted into Hollywood's Rockwalk on May 11, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Trish Tokar/Getty Images) ; LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Bernie Taupin attends The BAFTA Los Angeles Tea Party at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 04, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images)

Leave a Comment