The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2021 inductees have been announced. JAY-Z and Foo Fighters have been inducted after being nominated in their first year of eligibility. Tina Turner, the Go-Go’s, Todd Rundgren, and Carole King have also been inducted. It marks the second induction for Dave Grohl (previously with Nirvana), Turner (previously with Ike Turner), and King (previously with Gerry Goffin). Turner and King follow Stevie Nicks as the only women to be inducted multiple times. 

Outside the “Performers” induction category, several iconic artists received recognition from the Rock Hall. This year’s recipients of the Early Influence Award are Kraftwerk, Gil Scott-Heron, and Charley Patton. The Musical Excellence Award went to LL Cool J, Billy Preston, and Randy Rhoads. Music executive Clarence Avant is this year’s Ahmet Ertegun Award honoree.

It’s the first year three women artists have been inducted in the performers category. “This is the most diverse class of inductees in the history of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, told Pitchfork.

LL Cool J and Kraftwerk have been nominated for Rock Hall consideration multiple times. Asked if their new awards preclude them from future induction in the Performers category, Sykes responded, “It’s important to note that these special committee awards give the artist the same exact honor as they do a performer. They’re put up on the same wall next to the performance inductees.”

Rage Against the Machine, Mary J. Blige, Kate Bush, Devo, Iron Maiden, Chaka Khan, Fela Kuti, New York Dolls, and Dionne Warwick were on the longlist this year, but weren’t inducted. 

The Rock Hall 2021 ceremony is set to take place October 30, 2021, at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (An HBO and HBO Max special will air at a later date. Last year’s live ceremony was replaced with a remotely filmed HBO special featuring the inductees.) “We see this being one of the first major live in-person events to celebrate the opening of America and the world again,” Sykes said. “One tradition that will continue will be younger artists paying tribute to the older ones who were inducted.” 

Performer Category:
Foo Fighters
The Go-Go’s
JAY-Z
Carole King
Todd Rundgren
Tina Turner

Ahmet Ertegun Award:
Clarence Avant

Musical Excellence Award:
LL Cool J
Billy Preston
Randy Rhoads

Early Influence Award:
Kraftwerk
Gil Scott-Heron
Charley Patton