Potential 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ballot could be R&B heavy

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It sometimes seems like the people who choose inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame overlook what the Hall is actually about. While ‘Rock’ is the most important part of the name, the selection committee has recently been honoring artists from genres like country and hip-hop.

There’s nothing wrong with other music genres, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should focus on celebrating rock music and the artists who defined it. That’s why it seems strange they often exclude heavy metal musicians.

Now that the class of 2025 has been inducted, we’re already looking ahead to the 2026 nominees, which will be announced in a few months. Every February, fans get to debate and vote on the list, but all those individual votes are combined into a single tally.

What could the ballot for the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame look like?

This prevents bands with artificially inflated popularity from being inducted based solely on fan votes. For example, in 2025, Phish won the fan vote, but the Rock Hall’s board correctly decided not to induct them.

Phish fans probably won’t get to vote on band nominations again in 2026, and that’s likely a good thing. If the nomination list includes 14 artists, as it did in 2025, we could see several R&B musicians seriously considered for induction.

I’m really excited about the Rock Hall nominations this year, and Alicia Keys is definitely one to watch! Her debut album, Songs in A Minor, came out way back in 2001, and there’s a 25-year waiting period before artists are even eligible. She’s had an amazing career with tons of hits and worked with so many different artists, but honestly, I’m still debating whether she truly fits into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It’s a tough one!

Besides those already mentioned, Boyz II Men and De La Soul are strong contenders for induction. On the rock side, artists like Tool, Iron Maiden (who many feel deserved induction years ago), and Billy Idol could also be nominated.

Idol was likely close to making the Hall in 2025. He deserves to in 2026.

The list of potential inductees could also include artists like Phil Collins, Selena, Beck, INXS, Culture Club, and No Doubt. While the 2026 class might not be the most exciting, we’re hoping some deserving musicians will make it into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.

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2025-11-15 14:00