Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2023; Kate Bush, George Michael and Sheryl Crow announced as class of 2023

The 2023 nominees for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame have been announced this afternoon and it would appear that Courtney Love has gotten her wish - Kate Bush will be entered into the class of 2023 after her resurgence thanks to “Running Up That Hill” being used in the most recent season of Netflix juggernaut Stranger Things. 

Courtney Love caused a minor controversy in March, when she called out an anonymous hall of fame voter who stated they were “unfamiliar” with the works of Kate Bush, prompting the Hole lead singer to take to Twitter and write ““Bro! The rest of us have been LIVING KATE BUSH since 1977! This idiot VOTES people’s bank account & legacy? Too much power in the hands of IDIOTS.”

Despite the unfamiliarity, Kate Bush indeed cemented her place in the hall of fame, with the official ceremony taking place at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York on November 3 2023 with an eclectic class joining her this year. She will be joined by George Michael, the subject of a forthcoming Netflix documentary later in the year (such good timing), Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine and The Spinners.

The Musical Influence Award will be given to DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray, while Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin have been selected for the Musical Excellence Award. In addition, the Ahmet Ertegun Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the music industry, will be presented to Don Cornelius. These awards serve to acknowledge and honour the significant contributions that these individuals have made to the world of music.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023

• Kate Bush
• Sheryl Crow
• Missy Elliott
• George Michael
• Willie Nelson
• Rage Against the Machine
• The Spinners

Musical Influence Award

• DJ Kool Herc
• Link Wray

Musical Excellence Award

• Chaka Khan
• Al Kooper
• Bernie Taupin

Ahmet Ertegun Award

• Don Cornelius