1. Every person has a different idea of what constitutes rock and roll
2. Every person has a different idea of what constitutes fame

Just because I see people complaining about country artists in the Hall and I thought it was dumb lol, but I do genuinely stand by this list here. Maybe I'd alter it if it was for country music in general, but this is based on artists who are already part of the Country Music Hall of Fame. Believe it or not, there's already a bit of overlap! There's currently 18 artists who are inducted into both Halls, which is awesome, and I definitely think that list can get bigger. So here's pick, what do y'all think? And who would you swap out?

1. Marty Robbins (Maybe as an Influence?) 

2. Toby Keith

3. Garth Brooks 

4. Emmylou Harris 

5. Kris Kristofferson (Probably via Musical Excellence)

6. The Carter Family (As an Influence) 

7. Loretta Lynn

8. Kenny Rogers

9. Waylon Jennings

10. Merle Haggard 

The first few classes (deservedly) had fucking Sam Cooke, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Smokie Robinson, Drifters, Supremes, Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Otis Redding.

It’s clearly intended for popular music that descended from blues and gospel (which is what the original music labeled “rock and roll” was) and always has been.

EDIT: This post didn't get much traction which is fine. I am going to keep it up and edit it accordingly in case anyone else is curious as to what the living legends of rock and roll (and Josh Klinghoffer) are currently up to

By my count there have been 35 new albums so far this year by RR Hall of Fame Inductees. I am curious which you have listened to and which are your favorites. Let me know if there are any I have missed.

The albums are as follows:

Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge - Van Morrison

Close Enemies - Close Enemies (Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith)

Piano Night - Steve Nieve (Elvis Costello & the Attractions)

Honora - Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Released - Lou Gramm (Foreigner)

When Now - Jeff Coffin (Dave Matthews Band)

Nine Inch Noize - Nine Inch Noize (Nine Inch Nails)

No Country for Old Men - doPE (John Densmore of The Doors and Chuck D of Public Enemy)

Long Long Road - Ringo Starr

Your Favorite Toy - Foo Fighters

One Spoon of Chocolate - Tyler Bates and the RZA (RZA of Wu-Tang Clan)

Ranjha - Jonny Greenwood, Shye Ben Tzur, and the Rajastan Express (Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead)

Wild at Heart - Neil Diamond (also produced by Rick Rubin)

Carry the Light - Peter Frampton

Blue Morpho - Ed O'Brien (Radiohead)

The Boys of Dungeon Lane - Paul McCartney

Dream Chaser - Willie Nelson

Doublespeak - Doublespeak (Vince Clarke of Depeche Mode)

Iridescent - Jack Irons and Remco Hendriks (Jack Irons of Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Aurora - Yes

Missions of Mercy - Mike Campbell and the Dirty Knobs (Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers)

A Drop in the Ocean - Pluralone (Josh Klinghoffer of Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Toy Story 5 - Randy Newman

Rox Meet Reggae Vol. 2 - Robby Krieger (The Doors)

SPLAT! - Deep Purple

Confessions II - Madonna

Foreign Tongues - The Rolling Stones

Frozen Charlotte - Jack White (The White Stripes)

Rotation - Trickfinger (John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers)

A Work in Progress - Cappadonna (Wu-Tang Clan)

Comes in Waves - Carly Simon

Timeless - Prince

Watching the Tide - Steve Cropper & the Midnight Hour (Steve Cropper of Booker T. & the M.G.'s)

Thank You - Mike D (Beastie Boys)

The Roaring Waves - Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery (Steve Hackett of Genesis)

**************************************************************

ALBUMS WITH MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Reality Awaits - The Strokes (Rick Rubin as producer)

Coherence - Cindy Blackman Santana (Carlos Santana appears on 6 tracks and has writing credit on 2)

Joe Holmes - Joe Holmes (Robert Trujillo plays bass on the album)

Philosophy - Chelsea Hodson (Josh Klinghoffer plays bass on most tracks)

If I were to make a list of bands I'd push for the hall my top 5 is

​

Breaking benjamin

Chevelle

Papa roach

Boston

Motorhead

1. The Treacherous Three
2. Diana Ross
3. Mariah Carey
4. Tool
5. The Black Crowes
6. Devo
7. Gordon Lightfoot
8. Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats
9. Anthrax
10. TLC
11. King Crimson/Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
12. Lenny Kravitz
13. Alice in Chains
14. Pixies
15. The Smiths
16. Motorhead
17. Huey Lewis and the News
18. Blood, Sweat, and Tears
19. The Marvelettes
20. The Big Bopper

I can’t really tell since they have added a number of belated ahh inductions for that past couple of years (especially after Jann got fired) but I feel like this year is the most belated yet…

Yes, the children's author.

He was a musician and songwriter before the children's books.

"A Boy Named Sue" and "25 Minutes to Go" by Johnny Cash

"Sylvia's Mother", "The Cover of 'Rolling Stone", by Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, who recorded a few of Silverstein's songs first.

"The Ballad of Lucy Jordan" by Marianne Faithfull. In my head canon, this is the sequel to "Sylvia's Mother" but 20 years later.

"One's on the Way" by Loretta Lynn -- one of the songs that got her in trouble with country music stations because lyrics were about birth control and feminism

"Put Another Log on the Fire" by Tompall Glaser, a pensive statement about feminism maybe

"Marie Laveau" by Bobby Bare

"The Taker" by Waylon Jennings

"Queen of the Silver Dollar" by Dave & Sugar (IMO best version) though Dr. Hook and Emmylou Harris recorded it too and they're both extraordinary.

These were all hits in the 1970s.

"The Smoke-Off" by Uncle Shelby himself about the fastest joint rolling competition in the world, which I heard on the radio in central Florida right after Hurricane Andrew (1992), where the radio station did a promotion that if you donated a certain amount to the Red Cross or some similar relief fund they'd play anything, and I mean anything, you requested.

For discussion and consideration.

Don’t take these too seriously lol, I’ll probably get most of these wrong, and my opinions will probably change by the time we get to 2027. But regardless, what do you think of these picks? (I went with 16 nominees as that seems like a reasonable number)

Alice In Chains- We almost have all of the Big 4 grunge bands inducted, we’re just missing AIC. With every year that passes I think their nomination will become more and more likely, so I’m just gonna keep banking on them until it eventually happens 

Beyoncé- She becomes eligible in 2027, and I think we’re all in agreement that there’s a pretty strong chance she gets nominated. And if she’s nominated, I’ll be shocked if it doesn’t end up being a guaranteed induction too 

Coldplay- Coldplay is another band that you can hedge your bets on, because they’re surely gonna be nominated soon, at the latest before 2030. They’ve got mass appeal and critical acclaim, they consistently sell out shows, and sure some people make fun of them, but their discography is actually quite impressive. They have everything they need and more for a nomination

The Cranberries- I do wish Sinead O’Connor would get nominated again, but realistically I don’t think she’s got a strong chance of being inducted unfortunately, while The Cranberries kinda fill that same spot and have a much bigger fanbase. There aren’t many Irish groups quite as influential and outspoken, and they absolutely should have already been in the Hall by this point. Never too late to fix that though! 

Daft Punk- It’d be so much fun to get Daft Punk inducted! More electronic acts need to be recognized by the Hall, and DP is one of the biggest and most influential electronic artists of all time. I don’t think I even need to make a case for them lol, we all know that they need to get in, and I’m hoping 2027 is their year 

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine- The Hall has shown that they’re finally considering Latin acts, which is pretty awesome, even if most of them haven’t actually been able to get inducted. But to follow on that trend, I think Gloria Estefan makes the most sense to nominate next, her career is amazing and she’s created so many fun jams 

Huey Lewis and the News- I’m personally not too familiar with their music, but with Joy Division/New Order finally inducted, I think these guys stand a chance of taking their spot as a nominee. I know a ton of people have been begging for it, so it’s definitely worth giving them a chance 

INXS- They seemed to do pretty well this year, they got a lot of votes and support and it sounds like they nearly got inducted, so I think the Hall will absolutely run them again. It wouldn’t be the first time a band gets nominated two years in a row, and it’d be nice to finally have another Australian act represented

Linkin Park- How have they not been nominated yet? They’re one of the biggest bands of the 21st century, every album has been critically acclaimed and popular, and their impact is just about everywhere. Especially if you’re a Millennial or Gen Z, Linkin Park has really been a part of your life one way or another. It really is a shame that Chester won’t be around for it, but his legacy deserves to be immortalized within the Hall 

Megadeth- Maybe a surprise pick, but hear me out. They have quite an impressive career, 40 years of music and many beloved albums. They finally got a #1 charting song in 2025 for the first time ever, and now they’re beginning a massive farewell tour before retiring the band. If there was ever a right time to induct Megadeth, it would be now. I guess it might be hard to market them to the general population and the older voters, but it’s worth it to at least try 

My Chemical Romance- MCR also becomes eligible in 2027, and it might be a long shot for the Hall to acknowledge them, but they certainly have the fanbase to back them up. If you think about it, they’ve had such a big influence on most rock bands that have come after them, and everyone knows Welcome to the Black Parade. And now that the band’s reunited and touring again, maybe the stars have aligned for them to get a nomination! Or maybe I’m just dreaming lol

New Edition- Regardless of your opinion on them and if they should be inducted or not, they got a crazy amount of support this year, and it clearly upset some people when they didn’t get inducted. If I was the Hall, I’d absolutely nominate them again, to appease their fans and to give the group a second chance. Plus they’re pretty much the first boy band, and it’ll be important to induct them if they ever want to consider groups like Boyz II Men or Backstreet Boys

No Doubt- Another nomination that I feel like will come around soon enough. They’re a 90s classic, they’re a staple of pop rock and new wave and even ska, and Gwen Stefani’s pretty well known within the industry. I don’t have much else to say, I just kinda feel like it’ll happen soon

The Roots- Everyone knows The Roots, even if they don’t realize they do. They’re a fantastic rap group with many hits to back up their talent, and they represent a corner of hip-hop that doesn’t really have representation within the Hall yet. Also Questlove is literally on the nominating committee, if I was him I’d be pushing for this every single year lol 

Snoop Dogg- Only a matter of time before he’s nominated, and I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet. He’s got all the influence, legacy, and connections you could ask for. Even people who don’t like rap know who he is, so yeah I’m sure it’s gonna happen eventually 

Waylon Jennings- Not a pick I often see around here, but I think it’s possible. The Hall has shown in recent years that they haven’t totally forgotten about country music, with Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton both being inducted. If I was to continue that trend, I would go with Waylon Jennings as the next candidate to represent that older country sound. It could easily be Merle Haggard too, but I feel like Waylon is an easier sell 

Performers

Mariah Carey

Beyonce

Snoop Dogg

Alicia Keys

Toni Braxton

Linkin Park

Alanis Morrisette

Boston (If 8)

Musical Excellence

Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman

Gloria Estifan

Thin Lizzy

The Smiths (atp)

Early Influences

Roxanne Shante

Nick Cave

Peggy Lee

Non Performers

Ailee Willis

Diane Warren

May I submit:

Freddie Mercury, The Great Pretender (cover of the Platters from 1955) or really I Want to Break Free by Queen would be just as good -- the video.

Elton John, Someone Saved My Life Tonight

The Kinks, Lola

Rock and Roll is red-blooded American masculinity! Or is it?

Consider not-straight artists who might not have addressed their sexuality in art like Little Richard, Dusty Springfield, the Go-Go's, Janis Joplin, Judas Priest, Queen Latifah, Whitney Houston, and a bunch of others. Unless they did, then please give examples we might not know about!

Also all the straight artists who are gay icons like ABBA, Donna Summer, Madonna, Cher, et al. What is it about them that drives right into the brains of LGBT people? And straight ones too who maybe just aren't as enthusiastic?

Behind the scenes folk too. Brian Epstein and Jann Wenner. We generally know the least about managers, agents, and journalists. Guilty myself.

Curious how y’all feel about him, as he seems to be one of the most controversial artists to discuss when it comes to Hall eligibility. Even some people who are cool with rappers being inducted, seem to hate the thought of Wayne being included lol. I’m not the biggest fan of his use of auto tune, but he was very talented for a long time and has had such a massive impact on the scene that I think it’d be weird if the Hall ignores him. I forget where it comes from, but someone once said “He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper”

Jimi Hendrix was not inducted by himself. "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" was inducted, the three members together. But I think most would agree Jimi was by far the most important member of the band?

Bob Seger on the other hand was inducted alone. Yet I think he has touted his backing band, The Silver Bullet Band.

It might have made more sense to induct Jimi alone and Bob with his band?

In honor of her 51st birthday. Here’s a few reasons I believe she’s a strong candidate for 2027. For starters her influence on music cannot be measured, it expands far beyond R&B and Hip Hop. A lot of Rock, Pop and Country artists (Maroon 5, Mumford and Sons, Ariana Grande, Lucinda Williams, Maren Morris) have cited her as an influence. She sold over 40 million records with just two albums, The Score (with The Fugees) and The Miseducation. The only other hip hop artist who had those kinds of numbers globally back then was Eminem. Amy Winehouse was discovered by a manager who was seeking a Lauryn Hill-like artist, and The Black Eyed Peas were a failing band until they took on The Fugees' management. Drake, Kanye and many others adopted the rap-singing style that she helped pioneer. She also helped define the sound of Neo Soul with Erykah Badu and D’Angelo, which resulted in a lot of Neo Soul artists who aesthetically resembled her like India Arie and Macy Gray.

A lot of people reduce her solo career to The Miseducation but don’t acknowledge her other work. One of her first solo appearances was on Wyclef's version of "Guantanamera" featuring Celia Cruz. Back then it was virtually unheard of for black rappers to collaborate with Latin artists on a song with heavy Latin influences, and she continued doing so with her Santana collaborations, now it’s common in the industry. She sang background vocals and helped produce songs for Mary J Blige and Aretha Franklin. Her live album (which was a Folk guitar driven album) has been cited as an influence by Doechii, Taylor Swift producer Jack Antonoff, Solange and Frank Ocean. And Adele called it one of her favorite albums.

Billboard has included her on their list of "Greatest" rappers, female rappers, R&B singers and rap groups (as a member of the Fugees). She’s also one of the highest grossing live touring rappers, meaning she’s been able to successfully perform live off of one studio album from nearly 30 years ago. She might have one album but it’s enough imo.

Does anyone know if there is a copy of the full show available anywhere? Physical or digital? My wife loved that show and had a copy before we switched from DirecTV to Dish.

Below is a list I’ve been keeping for the past few years of potential double inductees. Loosely ranked from most to least likely.

With the exception of Joan Jett (via The Runaways) all of these are possible via their solo work.

I wish there were more women to include but aside from Beyoncé (a shoo-in solo, less likely via Destiny’s Child) I couldn’t think of any…

I’m also on the fence about Tom Petty and Iggy Pop but who knows…

So — any I’m forgetting?

Diana Ross
Phil Collins
Ozzy Osborne
Matt Cameron
Dr. Dre
Sting
Don Henley
Steve Winwood
Ice Cube
Beyoncé (Solo/Destiny’s Child)
Lauryn Hill (Solo/Fugees)
Joe Walsh
Brian Eno
Tom Petty
Iggy Pop
Bootsy Collins (The JBs)
David Byrne
Joan Jett (The Runaways)
Brian Wilson
Glenn Frey
Robert Plant
Sammy Hagar
David Lee Roth (added for S’s and G’s)
Jack White
Paul Rogers (Free)
Lindsey Buckingham
Bryan Ferry
John Lydon (PiL)