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The late pop singer George Michael, 89-year-old country music superstar Willie Nelson, and rapper Missy Elliott are among the first-time nominees for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's class of 2023, revealed on Wednesday.
Eight of this year's 14 nominations are first-timers, including vocalists Sheryl Crow, Cyndi Lauper, and the late singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, as well as rock bands Joy Division/New Order and The White Stripes.
Returning nominations include singer Kate Bush, heavy metal band Iron Maiden, rock band Rage Against the Machine, rock group Soundgarden, R&B vocal trio The Spinners, and hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest.
"These artists have developed their own sounds that have influenced generations of musicians who have followed in their footsteps," said John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.
Artists or bands must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination to be eligible for candidature. Elliott and The White Stripes are eligible for the first time this year.
Last year, rapper Eminem, new wave band Duran Duran, country music queen Dolly Parton, rocker Pat Benatar, pop trio Eurythmics, and vocalists Lionel Ritchie and Carly Simon were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Parton had first stated that she would not accept the distinction because she did not believe she deserved it, but she later changed her mind and joined fellow country music inductees Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.
She did pledge to earn the award, and she has launched a new record called "Rock Star" that would feature versions of rock classics. Over 1,000 musicians, historians, and music business professionals from across the world will vote on the nominations, as will fans who can vote online or in person at the Hall of Fame's museum in Cleveland.
The list of entrants for 2023 will be released in May, when Nelson will turn 90, and the ceremony will take place in the fall.
