5 takeaways from the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame selections

Okay, so the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced who’s getting in for 2026 last night. They had seventeen artists up for induction, and this year they decided to let eight of them in – that’s one more than they picked last year. Pretty cool!

This year, the selection committee chose five artists for their impact on music, a significant increase from the two chosen last year. They also announced four individuals receiving the Musical Excellence award, up from three the previous year.

With more people being inducted, is the Hall of Fame becoming less selective? Actually, no – not this year. This year’s inductions seem to represent a different approach altogether.

5 main takeaways from this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame selections

While I might have made a few different choices, the Rock Hall did a really good job with its inductees this year. There were a couple of unexpected picks, but nothing that seemed completely wrong. That’s not always the case with an organization that always sparks so much debate among music lovers.

Past wrongs being righted

Michael Corleone famously said, “Today, I settle all family business…” in the movie The Godfather. It feels like Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voters had a similar idea this year, finally recognizing some truly deserving artists. At least three, and maybe even four, of this year’s inductees were long overdue for recognition – they were clear choices for an organization that celebrates the best in rock and roll.

Everyone up for the award had been nominated before but hadn’t won. This year was about finally recognizing those deserving candidates.

Setting aside personal feelings and debates, Iron Maiden and the combination of Joy Division/New Order were always likely candidates for induction. I believe Oasis deserves to be included as well, though someone could reasonably argue against their inclusion. Billy Idol feels like a strong contender, just slightly behind those three. In my opinion, all four of these bands should be inducted this year.

The desire to cast a wide net remains

Okay, so they let in four guys who are clearly rock legends, which is cool. But honestly, the Hall of Fame voters still seem to have a really loose definition of what ‘rock and roll’ even is. Every year, it feels like they push the boundaries further and further, asking how far you can get from classic rock and still get inducted. It’s kinda weird as a long-time fan, you know?

This year saw well-deserved recognition for several music legends: the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, the innovative jazz and soul artist Sade, and the iconic soul singer Luther Vandross. I wholeheartedly support these choices.

I’ve previously discussed how Mariah Carey’s nomination to the Hall of Fame could show how much a performer can stray from rock music and still be considered. This year marked her third nomination, but she wasn’t selected for induction.

Mariah Carey is a hugely successful musician, but her music isn’t really rock and roll. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame continues to honor artists who aren’t strictly rock, and it seems they’re drawing a line – somewhere between artists like Sade and Mariah Carey – to decide who qualifies.

Women were almost shut out of the performer category this year

Mariah Carey highlights a clear pattern this year. Out of the eight people honored, Sade was the only woman. Mariah wasn’t selected, joining Lauryn Hill, Melissa Etheridge, Pink, and Shakira as those who didn’t make the cut. I would have personally chosen Pink instead of Phil Collins, who is now a two-time inductee. He was previously honored as part of the band Genesis, and is now being recognized for his successful solo work.

Even though women currently lead the way in popular music, they haven’t been getting much recognition from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lately. Last year, only one female solo artist, Cindy Lauper, was inducted, with Meg White being recognized as part of the band The White Stripes.

Since 2021, the organization has consistently inducted at least two, and often three, female artists each year. However, I anticipate this trend will change in the next few years, and artists like Pink and Hill will likely be recognized for their contributions.

The fan vote is largely meaningless

It’s no surprise, but it’s been confirmed again: despite winning the fan vote last year, Phish didn’t make the cut for induction. This year, New Edition received the most fan votes – over one million – but they weren’t chosen either. Neither were the other top contenders: Pink (third place), Shakira (fourth), or INXS (sixth).

Okay, so bands like Oasis and JD/NO came in 15th and 16th, but they still got picked – which, honestly, I’m not mad about! But it does make you think… if our votes clearly don’t decide everything, why bother voting at all? I’m guessing the Hall of Fame will probably have to adjust things and give fan votes a little more weight down the line, or people might just stop caring.

The righting of past wrongs extended beyond the standard performer category

Honestly, looking at the list of people getting awards for music – whether it was for their influence, how amazing they are as musicians, or for work behind the scenes – I was surprised by how many of them felt long overdue. Like, a lot of these folks should have been recognized ages ago, you know?

It’s surprising that Fela Kuti and Gram Parsons weren’t inducted sooner. Their influence is undeniable – Afrobeats and country rock wouldn’t be what they are today without them. MC Lyte and Queen Latifah, pioneers for women in rap, also deserve recognition. And Rick Rubin, along with Ed Sullivan (already honored with an award), seem like obvious choices for induction.

Overall, this year feels like a fresh start. The Hall of Fame addressed some long-standing issues while still maintaining its broad approach. We all have our individual preferences – I’m partial to Motorhead and Little Feat – but I believe 2026 will set the stage for further growth in the future.

Let’s focus on the important stuff: what will actually happen when Oasis and Iron Maiden perform in Cleveland?

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2026-04-14 15:30