Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, Missy Elliott, and Rage Against The Machine were in attendance as the newest honorees inducted during the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City. George Michael, who died at age of 53 in 2016, was inducted posthumously. In addition, also honored at the event were The Spinners, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Al Kooper, Bernie Taupin and Don Cornelius.
New inductee Kate Bush posted a message on social media explaining she would not be able to travel from her home in England for the ceremony: “I am completely blown away by this huge honor — an award that sits in the big beating heart of the American music industry. Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. I never imagined I would be given this wonderful accolade. Last year was such a surprisingly successful time for my track ‘Running Up That Hill’ and I’m sure that a lot of you who’ve voted me in to the RRHOF also drove that track up the charts. Thank you!”
Elliott, 52, received the honor of becoming the first female hip-hop artist in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as she was inducted by Queen Latifah. Crow, 61, who was first joined on stage by 20-year-old pop star Olivia Rodrigo to perform her 1996 hit “If It Makes You Happy.”was inducted by friend Laura Dern and was later also joined on stage by fellow inductee Nelson, 90, and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks and Peter Frampton. Khan, 70, was inducted by singer Jasmine Sullivan, and Andrew Ridgeley honored his partner in Wham!, the late George Michael: “His music was key to his compassion … George is one of the greatest singers of our time.” Ice-T presented activist punk-rockers Rage Against the Machine, with RATM’s guitarist Tom Morello urging the crowd to fight for a world “without compromise or apologies.”
A special featuring highlights from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gala is set to stream on Disney+ on Jan. 1.
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