Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Release 2023 Class of Inductees: Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and More

May 3, 2023
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Release 2023 Class of Inductees: Kate Bush, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and More

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its class of 2023 inductees – a diverse and exciting group of performers and music industry figures. Kate Bush, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, and Rage Against the Machine are among the performers being honored, alongside Willie Nelson, George Michael, and the Spinners.

Kate Bush, the British singer-songwriter known for her unique voice and experimental approach to music, is being inducted on her fourth nomination. Missy Elliott, the groundbreaking hip-hop artist and producer, is being honored after her first nomination. Sheryl Crow, the singer-songwriter behind hits like “All I Wanna Do” and “If It Makes You Happy,” is also making the Rock Hall on her first go around, as is country legend Willie Nelson, who recently had a star-studded smoke-fueled 90th birthday celebration. Rage Against the Machine, the politically charged rock band, are finally getting their due after five nominations, while the Spinners, the R&B group known for hits like “I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love,” are being inducted after four nominations.

In addition to the performer inductees, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is also recognizing several influential figures with special awards. DJ Kool Herc, the Jamaican-born DJ who co-hosted the 1973 party in the Bronx widely credited as the birthplace of hip-hop, is receiving the Musical Influence Award, as is Link Wray, the North Carolina–born guitarist who helped pave the way for punk and garage rock with his raw, edgy sound. Chaka Khan, the soul and funk icon, is being honored with a Musical Excellence Award for her groundbreaking work with Rufus and as a solo artist. Al Kooper, the musician and producer who worked with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and many others, is also receiving a Musical Excellence Award, as is Bernie Taupin, the lyricist best known for his decades-long collaboration with Elton John. Finally, Don Cornelius, the late creator of Soul Train, will be posthumously awarded the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which recognizes non-performers who have had a significant impact on the music industry.

The induction ceremony will take place on Friday, Nov. 3, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. “This year’s incredible group of inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock’n’roll,” said John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “We are honored that this November’s induction ceremony in New York will coincide with two milestones in music culture; the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson and the 50th Anniversary of the birth of hip-hop.”

Learn more about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame here.