How to watch the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, and more
The newest members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame are about to have their moment in the sun. (Okay, they've clearly had many moments in the sun prior to this. That's why they're there.) The hall's 2023 induction ceremony will take place Friday evening, and you can watch it live at home for the first time.
Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and the Spinners will all be inducted into the hall in a celebration at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The ceremony, rife with performances from other artists, will stream live on Disney+.
In addition to the induction of those seven artists, Soul Train creator Don Cornelius will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award; both DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will get the Musical Influence Award; and Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin will receive the Musical Excellence Award.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images; ZIK Images/United Archives via Getty Images; Chris Saunders/Avalon/Getty Images Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, and Zach De La Rocha of Rage Against the Machine
The list of presenters and performers is as star-studded as the list of inductees. The ceremony will feature Olivia Rodrigo, Stevie Nicks, Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Common, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Miguel, Queen Latifah, Sia, Elton John, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews, H.E.R., St. Vincent, and New Edition.
How to stream the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
For the first time, the ceremony will be available to stream live. You can watch it live or on-demand on Disney+, with the live stream beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Nov. 3.
Additionally, audio can be streamed live through Apple Music 1 on Friday. Or you can wait until Jan. 1 to catch a two-hour prime-time special on ABC. That presentation will feature highlights, performances, and other moments from Friday's induction ceremony. The special will be available to stream on Jan. 2 on Hulu and Disney+.
Here's a little more on each inductee in the class of 2023.
Missy Elliott
Elliott broke ground with her music, as well as her work as a producer and label executive. Her debut album, Supa Dupa Fly, forged a futuristic hip-hop style that influenced generations through a unique sound and eye-catching music videos. She was an unapologetic visionary in a male-dominated genre. Elliott became the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and to get the MTV Video Vanguard Award. In addition to her four Grammys, two honorary doctorates, and the Woman's Entrepreneurship Day Music Pioneer Award from the United Nations, she holds the record for the most platinum albums by a female rapper. She has produced and written songs for an inimitable list of musicians, including Aaliyah, Beyoncé, Eminem, and Lizzo.
Kate Bush
Bush was a pioneer in many ways, including gaining control of her music at a young age. "Wuthering Heights," off her debut album, The Kick Inside, made Bush the first female artist to hit No. 1 on the U.K. charts with a self-written song. She rarely appeared on stage, but when she did, she wowed and influenced artists across disciplines. Bush returned to the spotlight in 2022 when her hit "Running Up That Hill" was memorably featured on Stranger Things and became a hit again. It reached No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart and the top 10 on the U.S. charts that year.
Rage Against the Machine
Activism and music have always walked hand-in-hand for this Los Angeles quartet. They fused hip-hop, punk, metal, funk, and rock in a sound that was unapologetically their own and undeniably influential. Compared to other inductees like Nelson, RATM have released relatively few albums, but each has had an impact socially and musically. Guitarist Tom Morello experimented with sound in ways that have influenced following generations, just as vocalist Zach de la Rocha did by bringing rap elements into a metal sound. They've also used their songs to put a spotlight on important issues like the imprisonment of Native American leader Leonard Peltier and unchecked police brutality in "Killing in the Name."
Willie Nelson
Nelson has been a songwriter and performer for more than 60 years, with his music as powerful as his work as an activist and philanthropist. Best known for his country music, Nelson has made forays into a variety of styles, including blues and gospel. He's written for stars like Patsy Cline and Ray Price, as well as penning hits of his own across his 73 solo albums, including "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," off Red Headed Stranger. He helped forge the outlaw country movement with his collaborative album Wanted! The Outlaws with Waylon Jennings, Jessi Colter, and Tompall Glaser, which became the first country album to go platinum. He was also part of the supergroup Highwaymen with Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.
George Michael
From his work in the duo Wham with Andrew Ridgeley to his solo accomplishments, Michael proved capable of crafting hit songs across generations. He was the most-played artist on British radio from 1984 to 2004 and remains of the best-selling artists of all time. Wham propelled him into the spotlight at a young age, but he proved he had staying power with a duet with Aretha Franklin ("I Knew You Were Waiting for Me") and his solo album Faith, which had four hit singles, including the title track. Just as influential as his music was Michael's decision to come out as gay in 1998, helping open the door for other artists to live in the spotlight as their authentic selves. Michael died in 2016.
The Spinners
The Spinners are one of the most legendary R&B vocal groups of all time, from their Motown origins to their major impact on the sound of Philadelphia soul. They charted in their Motown days with songs like "I'll Always Love You" and had a top 5 R&B single with "It's a Shame," co-written and produced by Stevie Wonder. After their move to Atlantic Records and collaboration with Philadelphia producer-songwriter Thom Bell, the group churned out hit after hit. They released four No. 1 R&B hits in 18 months with Atlantic and put out 12 consecutive top 10 R&B singles during their first five years on the label. They've continued to release music decade after decade, including a new album in 2021, 'Round the Block and Back Again.
Sheryl Crow
Crow's influence has crossed genres for decades, starting with work as a session musician with legends like Steve Wonder while writing songs for artists like Celine Dion, Tina Turner, and Wyonna Judd. Her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club, earned her nine Grammys. She would win even more awards with subsequent albums, many of which went platinum. Those albums ran through 2019, when she released her self-proclaimed final album, Threads.
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