Photo by Georg Wendt for picture alliance via Getty Images

This year’s ceremony will also honor Gil Scott-Heron, Kraftwerk, Billy Preston and LL Cool J.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has unveiled this year’s list of inductees. Leading the class of 2021 are JAY-Z and Foo Fighters, who were inducted in their first year of eligibility. Joining the mogul and Dave Grohl-fronted rock band are Tina Turner, Carole King, Todd Rundgren, and The Go-Go’s.

This year’s class features a number of second-time inductees, including Turner (previously inducted with ex-husband Ike Turner,) Grohl (previously inducted with Nirvana,) and King (previously inducted with writing partner, Gerry Goffin.) There’s also at least one first. According to Boardroom, JAY-Z is the only living solo rapper to be inducted,

Outside of the “Performer” category, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is celebrating the contributions of LL Cool J, Billy Preston, and Randy Rhoads with the “Musical Excellence Award.” Kraftwerk, Gil Scott-Heron, and Charley Patton are the recipients of the “Early Influence Award.” And pioneering music executive Clarence Avant, aka “The Black Godfather,” has been honored with this year’s “Ahmet Ertegun Award.”

The 2021 selections were picked from a long list of nominees that included Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Fela Kuti, Dionne Warwick, Rage Against the Machine, and more, (several of which have yet to be selected after multiple nominations.) The customary induction ceremony will be filmed on October 30, 2021 at at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse arena in Cleveland, Ohio. “We see this being one of the first major live in-person events to celebrate the opening of America and the world again,” says John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, in a statement for Pitchfork. A recording of the ceremony will be released as a special on HBO and HBO Max later this year.

A few of this year’s inductees have expressed their gratitude for a slot in the 2021 class. “I am absolutely thrilled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame amongst such amazing artists! Thank you for all your continued love and support over the years!,” writes Tina Turner in a rare dispatch on Twitter (see below.) “You can do anything you put your mind to. Thank you,” wrote LL Cool J on Instagram.

See this year’s full list of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees and award winners below. Stay tuned for details on the incoming HBO special.

Performer Category:

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

Musical Excellence Award:

LL Cool J
Billy Preston
Randy Rhoads

Early Influence Award:

Kraftwerk
Gil Scott-Heron
Charley Patton

I am absolutely thrilled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame amongst such amazing artists! Thank you for all your continued love and support over the years! Love, Tina ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5IY9WQPsv7

— TinaTurner (@LoveTinaTurner) May 12, 2021

 

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