Leading 2023 Rock Hall Inductees: George Michael, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its class of 2023, featuring a diverse selection of celebrated artists. Among the inductees are Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and The Spinners. The honorees will be joined by DJ Kool Herc and singer Link Wray, who will receive the Rock Hall’s Musical Influence Award. Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin are also set to be celebrated with Musical Excellence awards.

The various awards serve to recognize artists who have made a significant impact on youth culture through their music and performances. One of the most prestigious accolades is the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which is awarded to non-performers who have left a lasting impression on the music industry. This year's recipient is Don Cornelius, the late host of the television show 'Soul Train.'

Several of the honorees, including Cornelius, Michael, and Wray, will be acknowledged posthumously during the Rock Hall's 38th annual inauguration. The event is scheduled to take place at Barclay's Center on November 3.

Commenting on the selection of inductees, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman John Sykes stated, 'This year's incredible group of inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock & roll.' Crow, Elliott, Michael, and Nelson were nominated for the first time this year, while Rage Against the Machine received their fifth nomination before earning a spot in the Hall of Fame.

Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is contingent upon an artist having released their first record at least 25 years prior. This year marked Missy Elliott's first year of eligibility. Notably, several artists who were nominated for induction did not make the final cut, including A Tribe Called Quest, Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, and Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden's lead singer, Bruce Dickinson, has been critical of the Rock Hall in the past, describing it in 2018 as 'run by a bunch of sanctimonious bloody Americans who wouldn't know rock 'n' roll if it hit them in the face' and vowing not to accept its nomination.