Just days after his 90th birthday, Willie Nelson has another huge reason to celebrate. He’s being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!
The Hall announced its 2023 class of inductees on Wednesday (May 3). Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, George Michael, Sheryl Crow, and The Spinners were all named as inductees. Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin will receive the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Musical Excellence Award.
This was Nelson’s first time being nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. So it’s quite impressive that he got inducted right away!
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Inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are chosen by an international voting body. That body is comprised of 1,000 artists, historians, and other members of the music industry.
Nelson is not the first country artist to earn a spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Bill Monroe, Elvis Presley, and other country stars also have spots in the Hall. Parton is the most recent “country” inductee, having earned her spot in the Hall in 2022.
Though anyone who’s listened to Nelson’s music knows he’s far more than just a country star. His music has crossed genres, and he’s inspired numerous artists from multiple generations.
Nelson is already a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted into that institution in 1993.
Now, Nelson has several months to wait before the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s induction ceremony. The ceremony will be held on November 3 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. We can’t wait to see who will pay tribute to Nelson during the ceremony!
Watch the video below to see LL Cool J reveal the names of all of the Rock Hall inductees. Congratulations to Nelson and to all of the other acts who are being inducted!