The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its annual inductees on Wednesday morning, with this year's crop of honorees including Willie Nelson, Kate Bush, Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, and the '60s R&B group the Spinners. Although they may be banned from Saturday Night Live, rock band Rage Against the Machine also joins the hallowed hall.
The inclusion of Nelson and Bush are particularly notable, as Nelson celebrated his 90th birthday over the weekend at a two-night, star-studded bash at the Hollywood Bowl featuring more than 45 artists. Meanwhile, after being nominated three times in the past, Bush finally made the cut thanks in part to her 1985 single "Running Up That Hill" hitting the charts last summer after being featured prominently in season four of Netflix's Stranger Things.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame chairman John Sykes told Variety that the nominating committee was "very happy" about the inclusion of Bush in this year's inductees after being nominated several times.
"Sometimes it takes a major moment like Willie’s 90th birthday or, in the case of Kate Bush, music being played in Stranger Things to shine a light on them for a lot of younger people who didn’t know who she was in 1985," Sykes said. "They probably weren’t even born yet."
In addition to the seven main inductees, new additions to the "musical excellence" category included Chaka Khan, songwriter and record producer Al Kooper, and songwriter Bernie Taupin. Pioneering rock guitarist Link Wray and hip-hop originator DJ Kool Herc also earned nods the “musical influence” division, while Soul Train host Don Cornelius was honored with the annual non-performer Ahmet Ertegun Award.
Nominees who didn't make the cut this year despite being included on the ballot included A Tribe Called Quest, Iron Maiden, Cyndi Lauper, Soundgarden, Joy Division/New Order, The White Stripes and "Werewolves of London" singer-songwriter Warren Zevon.
The honorees will be officially be inducted at a ceremony and concert to take place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Nov. 3, with a media partner forthcoming as HBO's contract with the venue recently expired.
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