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Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow and other iconic artists are officially among the 2023 Inductees announced by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation on Wednesday morning (May 3). The list of inductees was revealed shortly after the “On The Road Again” legend celebrated his 90th birthday on Saturday (April 29). Nelson and Crow were revealed as nominees earlier this year. They were among eight who were on the ballot for the first time.
“This year’s incredible group of Inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock & roll,” John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement. “We are honored that this November’s Induction Ceremony in New York will coincide with two milestones in music culture; the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson and the 50th Anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop.”
See the full list of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees here:
Performer Category
Musical Influence Award
DJ Kool Herc
Musical Excellence Award
Ahmet Ertegun Award
Don Cornelius
Nelson is known as a trailblazing singer-songwriter in addition to his activism throughout his decades-long career. The country star's music has often blended rock, jazz, pop and blues elements, notes the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Nelson’s earliest hits penned for other artists include “Night Life” by Ray Price and “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, before skyrocketing to fame in the mid-70s with his solo albums. Nelson has also collaborated with many other artists — including Crow, and his group The Highwaymen with Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings — and influenced others throughout his career of more than 60 years.
Crow’s unforgettable music fuses country, folk, blues, rock and pop into her sound, notes the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Crow toured with Michael Jackson and lended her backup vocals and songwriting to some of the world’s most legendary artists (including Stevie Wonder and Wynonna Judd, among many others) in the late 80s, and went on to release her debut album in 1993. The award-winning superstar has since collaborated with artists like Cash, Loretta Lynn and many others.
Fans had the opportunity to weigh in on the inductees by voting online or in person at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. The top five artists selected by the public made it to a “fans’ ballot” that was tallied with the other ballots to determine the inductees, the Rock Hall previously explained. The music history behemoth also noted that an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and other members of the music industry received nominee ballots. Consideration includes an artist’s musical impact on others, length and depth of their body of work throughout their career and more. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2023 Induction Ceremony will take place in the fall.