The luminaries of the music world are set to celebrate a fresh cohort of illustrious artists being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this Friday. The star-studded lineup includes the innovative Missy Elliott and the beloved late George Michael.
The 2023 class of inductees is a rich tapestry of musical virtuosity, featuring the boundary-pushing Kate Bush, the politically charged rockers Rage Against the Machine, the legendary country artist Willie Nelson, the soulful heartland rocker Sheryl Crow, and the quintessential R&B ensemble The Spinners.
In a salute to extraordinary talent, Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin will be honored with the Hall’s awards for musical excellence. Meanwhile, DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will be celebrated as seminal “influences,” and “Soul Train” mastermind Don Cornelius will be posthumously awarded for his non-performer contributions.
Situated in Cleveland, the Hall of Fame, which collated the perspectives of over a thousand artists, historians, and members of the music industry, will pay tribute to these music greats at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The Hall has broadened its scope beyond genre, embracing a spirit of inclusivity by inducting icons from rap, pop, R&B, and country music.
John Sykes, the Chairman of the Hall of Fame, has highlighted this year’s diverse group of inductees as embodying the essence of rock ‘n’ roll. This celebration is synchronous with two significant milestones: the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday.
Missy Elliott, known for hits like “Lose Control” and “Get Ur Freak On,” will be making history as the first female hip-hop artist to be enshrined in the Hall, receiving the honor in her very first year of eligibility—25 years after her first commercial release.
The illustrious Queen Latifah is set to induct Elliott, who has expressed her gratitude and pride for this monumental acknowledgment of hip-hop’s cultural significance.
In the broader context, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been taking strides to rectify its past criticisms of being overly male and white-dominated. Though music icons such as Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, and Madonna are among the Hall’s inductees, women have historically been underrepresented.
Controversy touched the institution earlier in the year when Jann Wenner’s comments in the New York Times attracted scrutiny. Wenner, a key figure in Hall’s inception and a co-founder of Rolling Stone magazine had, until 2020, also served as chairman of the Rock Hall Foundation, succeeded by Sykes.
Sykes has since focused on modernizing the voting body to better reflect the eligible artists and the diverse fabric of the music industry. Emphasizing the importance of a youthful and diverse voting panel, he remains committed to making informed choices regarding inductees and highlighted the recent induction of notable women artists, signaling a positive trajectory towards inclusivity.
Reinterpreting the essence of rock, Sykes suggests it represents what captivates the youth, encapsulating the passions of a 16-year-old music fan.
This landmark event will be broadcast live to audiences worldwide via Disney+, starting at 8 pm (0000 GMT).