Complete List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees By Year

Since 1986, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland has been honoring the most significant contributors to rock & roll and music history.

Whether fans agree with their decisions or not, the Hall is respected as an institution, and has honored more than 400 bands and artists to date.

Most of the Rock Hall inductees are performers, but the Hall has also inducted executives, songwriters, and other industry figures using side categories. This list includes everybody who has been inducted in any of these categories.

If the person you’re looking for isn’t on this list, because they haven’t been inducted yet, perhaps they appear on the list of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snubs.

Rock Hall Induction Categories

First, a brief summary of the categories in which an artist can be inducted.

Performer: This is the main induction category. The Hall says it’s based on “influence and significance to the development and perpetuation of rock and roll.” These inductees are chosen by the full voting body of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in an annual vote.

Early influence / musical influence: This category was initially called “early influence” and was intended to honor musicians who pre-dated the rock era. Honorees included Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, and Louis Armstrong.

In 2023, the category was renamed “musical influence,” and now includes artists from any era who had significant influence on popular music. Honorees under this new title have included Link Wray, Warren Zevon, and Salt N Pepa. In 2026, it reverted to “early influence” once again.

Inductees in this category are chosen by a small group of Rock Hall bigwigs. The main Rock Hall voting body does not select these honorees.

Musical excellence / sidemen: This category was created in 2000 as “Sidemen,” and was designed to honor those who worked as session musicians and live performers in the shadow of other artists. In 2010, it was renamed “award for musical excellence,” and is now sort of a catch-all for anybody the Hall wants to induct for any reason.

Often, this category is used to induct acts who were never able to get voted in by the main voting body, such as LL Cool J, Judas Priest and Chaka Khan.

Inductees in this category are chosen by a small group of Rock Hall bigwigs. The main Rock Hall voting body does not select these honorees.

Ahmet Ertegon Award for non-performers: This category honors record company executives, radio DJs, music journalists, songwriters, producers, and others known for working behind the scenes. Honorees include Berry Gordy, Jr., Dick Clark, Quincy Jones, and Jimmy Iovine. It was called “non-performers” until 2008, when it was renamed the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

Inductees in this category are chosen by a small group of Rock Hall bigwigs. The main Rock Hall voting body does not select these honorees.

Singles category: For a brief time (2018-2020), the Rock Hall had a singles category that honored specific songs, rather than an artist’s entire catalog.

It is possible for one person to get inducted into the Hall multiple times — either with multiple bands, or as a solo artist and a member of a group. Around 30 artists have been inducted into the Hall twice.

The Most Recent Induction Class: 2026

This year, the Hall will induct performers Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division / New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan. They also induct in the “early influence” category Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, and Gram Parsons.

In the “music excellence” category, the Hall inducts Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller, and Rick Rubin. And the Ahmet Ertegun Award goes to Ed Sullivan.

See our analysis of the 2026 nominees and inductees.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees By Year

Here’s the list of inductees for every year in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s history.

An asterisk * indicates the artist got inducted on their first year of eligibility.

(The presenter who gave the speech inducting the artist is shown in parenthesis.)

1986 Inductees

Chuck Berry* (Keith Richards)
James Brown* (Steve Winwood)
Ray Charles* (Quincy Jones)
Sam Cooke* (Herb Alpert)
Fats Domino* (Billy Joel)
Everly Brothers* (Neil Young)
Buddy Holly* (John Fogerty)
Jerry Lee Lewis* (Hank Williams, Jr.)
Little Richard* (Robert Flack)
Elvis Presley* (Julian and Sean Lennon)
Robert Johnson [early influence] (Robert Palmer – the writer)
Jimmie Rodgers [early influence] (Jerry Wexler)
Jimmy Yancey [early influence] (Ahmet Ertegun)
Sam Phillips [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Jerry Lee Lewis)
Alan Freed [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Norm N. Nite & Scott Muni)
John Hammond [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Ahmet Ertegun)

1987 Inductees

Coasters (Lester Sill)
Eddie Cochran (Mick Jones)
Bo Diddley (ZZ Top)
Aretha Franklin (Keith Richards)
Marvin Gaye (Ashford & Simpson)
Bill Haley (Chuck Berry)
BB King (Sting)
Clyde McPhatter (Ben E. King)
Ricky Nelson (John Fogerty)
Roy Orbison (Bruce Springsteen)
Carl Perkins (Sam Phillips)
Smokey Robinson (Hall & Oates)
Big Joe Turner (Doc Pomus)
Muddy Waters (Paul Butterfield)
Jackie Wilson (Peter Wolf)
Louis Jordan [early influence] (Seymour Stein)
T-Bone Walker [early influence] (Seymour Stein)
Hank Williams [early influence] (Seymour Stein)
Leonard Chess [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Ewart Abner)
Ahmet Ertegun [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Jann Wenner & Walter Yetnikoff)
Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Brian Wilson)
Jerry Wexler [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Jann Wenner)

1988 Inductees

Beach Boys* (Elton John)
The Beatles* (Mick Jagger)
The Drifters (Billy Joel)
Bob Dylan* (Bruce Springsteen)
Supremes (Little Richard)
Woody Guthrie [early influence] (Neil Young)
Lead Belly [early influence] (Pete Seeger)
Les Paul [early influence] (Jeff Beck)
Berry Gordy, Jr. [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Ahmet Ertegun)

1989 Inductees

Dion (Lou Reed)
Otis Redding (Little Richard)
Rolling Stones* (Pete Townshend)
The Temptations (Hall & Oates)
Steve Wonder (Paul Simon)
Ink Spots [early influence] (Bobby McFerrin)
Bessie Smith [early influence] (Anita Baker)
Soul Stirrers [early influence] (Al Green)
Phil Spector [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Tina Turner)

1990 Inductees

Hank Ballard (Boz Scaggs)
Bobby Darin (Paul Anka)
Four Seasons (Bob Crewe)
Four Tops (Stevie Wonder)
The Kinks* (Graham Nash)
The Platters (Phil Spector)
Simon & Garfunkel* (James Taylor)
The Who* (U2)
Louis Armstrong [early influence] (Rickie Lee Jones)
Charlie Christian [early influence] (Vernon Reid)
Ma Rainey [early influence] (Bonnie Raitt)
Gerry Goffin & Carole King [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Ben E. King)
Holland-Dozier-Holland [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Diana Ross)

1991 Inductees

LaVern Baker (Chaka Khan)
The Byrds* (Don Henley)
John Lee Hooker (Bonnie Raitt)
Impressions (Tracy Chapman)
Wilson Pickett (Bobby Brown)
Jimmy Reed (ZZ Top)
Ike and Tina Turner (Phil Spector)
Howlin’ Wolf [early influence] (Robert Cray)
Dave Bartholomew [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Neville Brothers)
Ralph Bass [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Hank Ballard)
Neshi Ertegun [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Quincy Jones)

1992 Inductees

Bobby “Blue” Bland (BB King)
Booker T & the M.G.’s (Jim Stewart)
Johnny Cash (Lyle Lovett)
Isley Brothers (Little Richard)
Jimi Hendrix Experience* (Neil Young)
Sam & Dave* (Billy Joel)
Yardbirds (The Edge)
Elmore James [early influence] (Robbie Robertson)
Professor Longhair [early influence] (Aaron Neville)
Leo Fender [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Keith Richards)
Bill Graham [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Carlos Santana)
Doc Pomus [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Phil Spector)

1993 Inductees

Ruth Brown (Bonnie Raitt)
Cream (ZZ Top)
Creedence Clearwater Revival* (Bruce Springsteen)
The Doors* (Eddie Vedder)
Etta James (kd lang)
Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (Boyz II Men)
Van Morrison* (Robbie Robertson)
Sly & the Family Stone* (George Clinton)
Dinah Washington [early influence] (Natalie Cole)
Dick Clark [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Dion)
Milt Gabler [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Billy Crystal)

1994 Inductees

The Animals (Dave Pirner)
The Band* (Eric Clapton)
Duane Eddy (Mick Jones)
Grateful Dead (Bruce Hornsby)
Elton John* (Axl Rose)
John Lennon* (Paul McCartney)
Bob Marley (Bono)
Rod Stewart (Jeff Beck)
Willie Dixon [early influence] (Chuck Berry)
Johnny Otis [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Etta James)

1995 Inductees

Allman Brothers Band* (Willie Nelson)
Al Green (Natalie Cole)
Janis Joplin* (Melissa Etheridge)
Led Zeppelin* (Steven Tyler & Joe Perry)
Martha & the Vandellas (Fred Schneider & Kate Pierson)
Neil Young* (Eddie Vedder)
Frank Zappa (Lou Reed)
The Orioles [early influence] (Deborah Chessler & Seymour Stein)
Paul Ackerman [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Ahmet Ertegun)

1996 Inductees

David Bowie (Madonna & David Byrne)
Gladys Knight & the Pips (Mariah Carey)
Jefferson Airplane (Mickey Hart & Phil Lesh)
Little Willie John (Stevie Wonder)
Pink Floyd (Billy Corgan)
The Shirelles (Merry Clayton, Marianne Faithfull & Darlene Love)
Velvet Underground (Patti Smith)
Pete Seeger [early influence] (Arlo Guthrie & Harry Belafonte)
Tom Donahue [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Bob Krasnow)

1997 Inductees

Bee Gees (Brian Wilson)
Buffalo Springfield (Tom Petty)
Crosby, Stills & Nash (James Taylor)
Jackson 5 (Diana Ross)
Joni Mitchell (Shawn Colvin)
Parliament-Funkadelic (Prince)
Rascals / Young Rascals (Steven van Zandt)
Mahalia Jackson [early influence] (Mavis Staples)
Bill Monroe [early influence] (Ricky Skaggs & Emmylou Harris)
Syd Nathan [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Seymour Stein)

1998 Inductees

The Eagles* (Jimmy Buffett)
Fleetwood Mac (Sheryl Crow)
The Mamas & the Papas (Shania Twain)
Lloyd Price (Tony Rich)
Santana (John Popper)
Gene Vincent (John Fogerty)
Jelly Roll Morton [early influence] (Ahmet Ertegun)
Allen Toussaint [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Robbie Robertson)

1999 Inductees

Billy Joel (Ray Charles)
Curtis Mayfield (Sean “P Diddy” Combs)
Paul McCartney (Neil Young)
Del Shannon (Art Alexakis)
Dusty Springfield (Elton John)
Bruce Springsteen* (Bono)
Staple Singers (Lauryn Hill)
Charles Brown [early influence] (Bonnie Raitt)
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys [early influence] (Chris Isaak)
George Martin [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Jimmy Iovine)

2000 Inductees

Eric Clapton (Robbie Robertson)
Earth, Wind & Fire (Lil Kim)
Lovin’ Spoonful (John Mellencamp)
The Moonglows (Paul Simon)
Bonnie Raitt (Melissa Etheridge)
James Taylor (Paul McCartney)
Nat King Cole [early influence] (Ray Charles)
Billie Holiday [early influence] (Diana Ross)
Hal Blaine [musical excellence] (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
King Curtis [musical excellence] (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
James Jamerson [musical excellence] (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
Scotty Moore [musical excellence] (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
Earl Palmer [musical excellence] (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)
Clive Davis [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Patti Smith)

2001 Inductees

Aerosmith (Kid Rock)
Solomon Burke (Mary J. Blige)
Flamingos (Frankie Valli)
Michael Jackson (N Sync)
Queen (Dave Grohl & Taylor Hawkins)
Paul Simon (Marc Anthony)
Steely Dan (Moby)
Ritchie Valens (Ricky Martin)
James Burton [musical excellence] (Keith Richards)
Johnnie Johnson [musical excellence] (Keith Richards)
Chris Blackwell [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Bono)

2002 Inductees

Isaac Hayes (Alicia Keys)
Brenda Lee (Jewel)
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers* (Jakob Dylan)
Gene Pitney (Darlene Love)
Ramones* (Eddie Vedder)
Talking Heads* (Anthony Kiedis)
Chet Atkins [musical excellence] (Marty Stuart & Brian Setzer)
Jim Stewart [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Sam Moore & Steve Cropper)

2003 Inductees

AC/DC (Steven Tyler)
The Clash* (The Edge & Tom Morello)
Elvis Costello & the Attractions* (Elton John)
The Police* (Gwen Stefani)
Righteous Brothers (Billy Joel)
Benny Benjamin [musical excellence] (Paul Shaffer)
Floyd Cramer [musical excellence] (Paul Shaffer)
Steve Douglas [musical excellence] (Paul Shaffer)
Mo Ostin [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Lorne Michaels, Paul Simon & Neil Young)

2004 Inductees

Jackson Browne (Bruce Springsteen)
The Dells (Robert Townsend)
George Harrison (Tom Petty & Jeff Lynne)
Prince* (Outkast & Alicia Keys)
Bob Seger (Kid Rock)
Traffic (Dave Matthews)
ZZ Top (Keith Richards)
Jann Wenner [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Mick Jagger)

2005 Inductees

Buddy Guy (Eric Clapton & BB King)
The O’Jays (Justin Timberlake)
The Pretenders* (Neil Young)
Percy Sledge (Rod Stewart)
U2* (Bruce Springsteen)
Frank Barsalona [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Steven van Zandt)
Seymour Stein [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Ice-T)

2006 Inductees

Black Sabbath (James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich)
Blondie (Shirley Manson)
Miles Davis (Herbie Hancock)
Lynyrd Skynyrd (Kid Rock)
Sex Pistols (Jann Wenner)
Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Sting)

2007 Inductees

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five (Jay-Z)
R.E.M.* (Eddie Vedder)
The Ronettes (Keith Richards)
Patti Smith (Zack de la Rocha)
Van Halen (Velvet Revolver)

2008 Inductees

The Dave Clark Five (Tom Hanks)
Leonard Cohen (Lou Reed)
Madonna* (Justin Timberlake)
John Mellencamp (Billy Joel)
The Ventures (John Fogerty)
Little Walter [musical excellence] (Ben Harper)
Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Jerry Butler)

2009 Inductees

Jeff Beck (Jimmy Page)
Little Anthony & the Imperials (Smokey Robinson)
Metallica (Flea)
Run-DMC* (Eminem)
Bobby Womack (Ron Wood)
Wanda Jackson [early influence] (Rosanne Cash)
Bill Black [musical excellence] (Garry Tallent)
DJ Fontana [musical excellence] (Max Weinberg)
Spooner Oldham [musical excellence] (Paul Shaffer)

2010 Inductees

ABBA (Barry and Robin Gibb)
Jimmy Cliff (Wyclef Jean)
Genesis (Trey Anastasio)
The Hollies (Steven van Zandt)
Iggy Pop & the Stooges (Billie Joe Armstrong)
Jeff Barry & Ellie Greenwich [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Carole King)
Otis Blackwell [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Carole King)
David Geffen [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Jackson Browne)
Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Carole King)
Mort Shuman [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Carole King)
Jesse Stone [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Carole King)

2011 Inductees

Alice Cooper (Rob Zombie)
Neil Diamond (Paul Simon)
Dr. John (John Legend)
Darlene Love (Bette Midler)
Tom Waits (Neil Young)
Leon Russell [musical excellence] (Elton John)
Jac Holzman [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (John Densmore)
Art Rupe [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Lloyd Price)

2012 Inductees

Beastie Boys (Chuck D & LL Cool J)
Blue Caps (Smokey Robinson)
The Comets (Smokey Robinson)
The Crickets (Smokey Robinson)
Donovan (John Mellencamp)
Famous Flames (Smokey Robinson)
Guns N Roses* (Green Day)
The Midnighters (Smokey Robinson)
The Miracles (Smokey Robinson)
Laura Nyro (Bette Midler)
Red Hot Chili Peppers (Chris Rock)
The Small Faces / The Faces (Steven van Zandt)
Freddie King [early influence] (Billy Gibbons & Dusty Hill)
Cosimo Matassa [musical excellence] (Robbie Robertson)
Tom Dowd [musical excellence] (Robbie Robertson)
Glyn Johns [musical excellence] (Robbie Robertson)
Don Kirshner [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Carole King)

2013 Inductees

Heart (Chris Cornell)
Albert King (John Mayer)
Randy Newman (Don Henley)
Public Enemy* (Harry Belafonte & Spike Lee)
Rush (Dave Grohl & Taylor Hawkins)
Donna Summer (Kelly Rowland)
Lou Adler [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Cheech & Chong)
Quincy Jones [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Oprah Winfrey)

2014 Inductees

Peter Gabriel (Chris Martin)
Hall & Oates (Questlove)
Kiss (Tom Morello)
Nirvana* (Michael Stipe)
Linda Ronstadt (Glenn Frey)
Cat Stevens (Art Garfunkel)
E Street Band [musical excellence] (Bruce Springsteen)
Brian Epstein [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Peter Asher)
Andrew Loog Oldham [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Peter Asher)

2015 Inductees

Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Peter Wolf)
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts (Miley Cyrus)
Green Day* (Fall Out Boy)
Lou Reed (Patti Smith)
Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble (John Mayer)
Bill Withers (Stevie Wonder)
Ringo Starr [musical excellence] (Paul McCartney)
The “5” Royales [early influence] (Steve Cropper)

2016 Inductees

Cheap Trick (Kid Rock)
Chicago (Rob Thomas)
Deep Purple (Lars Ulrich)
N.W.A. (Kendrick Lamar)
Steve Miller (Black Keys)
Bert Berns [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Steven van Zandt)

2017 Inductees

Joan Baez (Jackson Browne)
Electric Light Orchestra (Dhani Harrison)
Journey (Pat Monahan)
Pearl Jam* (David Letterman)
Tupac Shakur* (Snoop Dogg)
Yes (Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson)
Nile Rodgers [musical excellence] (Pharrell Williams)

2018 Inductees

Bon Jovi (Howard Stern)
The Cars (Brandon Flowers)
Dire Straits (none – band member John Illsley made the presenter speech)
Moody Blues (Ann Wilson)
Nina Simone (Mary J. Blige)
Sister Rosetta Tharpe [early influence] (Brittany Howard)

Singles inducted:
Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats – “Rocket 88”
Link Wray & His Ray Men – “Rumble”
Chubby Checker – “The Twist”
The Kingsmen – “Louie Louie”
Procol Harum – “A Whiter Shade of Pale”
Steppenwolf – “Born to Be Wild”

2019 Inductees

The Cure (Trent Reznor)
Def Leppard (Brian May)
Janet Jackson (Janelle Monae)
Stevie Nicks (Harry Styles)
Radiohead (David Byrne)
Roxy Music (Simon Le Bon & John Taylor)
The Zombies (Susanna Hoffs)

Singles inducted:
The Chantels – “Maybe”
The Champs – “Tequila”
Barrett Strong – “Money (That’s What I Want)”
The Shangri-Las – “Leader of the Pack”
The Shadows of Knight – “Gloria”
The Isley Brothers – “Twist and Shout”

2020 Inductees

Depeche Mode (Charlize Theron)
Doobie Brothers (Luke Bryan)
Whitney Houston (Alicia Keys)
Nine Inch Nails (Iggy Pop)
Notorious B.I.G.* (Sean “P Diddy” Combs)
T. Rex (Ringo Starr)
Irving Azoff [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Don Henley)
Jon Landau [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Bruce Springsteen)

Singles category:
Irma Thomas – “Time Is on My Side”
Junior Walker & the All-Stars – “Shotgun”
Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs – “Wooly Bully”
The Troggs – “Wild Thing”
The Box Tops – “The Letter”

2021 Inductees

Foo Fighters* (Paul McCartney)
The Go-Go’s (Drew Barrymore)
Jay-Z* (Dave Chappelle)
Carole King (Taylor Swift)
Todd Rundgren (Patti Smith)
Tina Turner (Angela Bassett)
Kraftwerk [early influence] (Pharrell Williams)
Charley Patton [early influence] (Gary Clark, Jr.)
Gil-Scott Heron [early influence] (Common)
LL Cool J [musical excellence] (Dr. Dre)
Billy Preston [musical excellence] (Ringo Starr)
Randy Rhoads [musical excellence] (Tom Morello)
Clarence Avant [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Lionel Richie)

2022 Inductees

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo (Sheryl Crow)
Duran Duran (Robert Downey, Jr.)
Eminem* (Dr. Dre)
Eurythmics (The Edge)
Dolly Parton (Pink)
Lionel Richie (Lenny Kravitz)
Carly Simon (Sara Bareilles)
Harry Belafonte [early influence] (none)
Elizabeth Cotton [early influence] (none)
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis [musical excellence] (Janet Jackson)
Judas Priest [musical excellence] (Alice Cooper)
Allen Grubman [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (John Mellencamp)
Jimmy Iovine [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (Bruce Springsteen)
Sylvia Robinson [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (none)

2023 Inductees

Kate Bush (Big Boi)
Sheryl Crow (Laura Dern)
Missy Elliott* (Queen Latifah)
George Michael (Andrew Ridgeley)
Willie Nelson (Dave Matthews)
Rage Against the Machine (Ice-T)
The Spinners (none)
DJ Kool Herc [musical influence] (LL Cool J)
Link Wray [musical influence] (Jimmy Page)
Chaka Khan [musical excellence] (Jazmine Sullivan)
Al Kooper [musical excellence] (none)
Bernie Taupin [musical excellence] (Elton John)
Don Cornelius [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (none)

2024 Inductees

Mary J. Blige (Dr. Dre & Method Man)
Cher (Zendaya)
Foreigner (Sammy Hagar)
Peter Frampton (Roger Daltry)
Kool & the Gang (Chuck D)
Dave Matthews Band (Julia Roberts)
Ozzy Osbourne (Jack Black)
A Tribe Called Quest (Dave Chappelle)
Alexis Korner [musical influence] (none)
John Mayall [musical influence] (none)
Big Mama Thornton [musical influence] (none)
Jimmy Buffett [musical excellence] (James Taylor)
MC5 [musical excellence] (Tom Morello)
Dionne Warwick [musical excellence] (Teyana Taylor)
Norman Whitfield [musical excellence] (none)
Suzanne de Passe [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (none)

2025 Inductees

(See our 2025 induction ceremony live blog)

Bad Company (Mick Fleetwood)
Chubby Checker (none)
Joe Cocker (Bryan Adams)
Cyndi Lauper (Chappell Roan)
Outkast (Donald Glover)
Soundgarden (Jim Carrey)
White Stripes (Iggy Pop)
Salt N Pepa [musical influence] (Missy Elliott)
Warren Zevon [musical influence] (David Letterman)
Thom Bell [musical excellence] (none)
Nicky Hopkins [musical excellence] (none)
Carol Kaye [musical excellence] (none)
Lenny Waronker [Ahmet Ertegun Award] (none)

2026 Inductees

Phil Collins
Billy Idol
Iron Maiden
Joy Division / New Order
Oasis
Sade
Luther Vandross
Wu-Tang Clan
Celia Cruz [early influence]
Fela Kuti [early influence]
MC Lyte [early influence]
Gram Parsons [early influence]
Queen Latifah [early influence]
Linda Creed [musical excellence]
Arif Mardin [musical excellence]
Jimmy Miller [musical excellence]
Rick Rubin [musical excellence]
Ed Sullivan [Ahmet Ertegun Award]

Complete List of First Ballot Inductees

This is the shortlist of inductees who got selected for induction in their very first year of eligibility.

This list obviously includes the entire 1986 class — since that was the first year of the Hall’s existence, everyone who was inducted that year was picked in their first year on the ballot.

1986: Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Elvis Presley

1988: Beach Boys, Beatles, Bob Dylan

1989: Rolling Stones

1990: The Kinks, Simon & Garfunkel, the Who

1991: The Byrds

1992: Jimi Hendrix Experience, Sam & Dave

1993: Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Doors, Sly & the Family Stone, Van Morrison

1994: The Band, Elton John, John Lennon

1995: Allman Brothers Band, Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Neil Young

1998: The Eagles

1999: Bruce Springsteen

2002: Ramones, Talking Heads, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

2003: The Clash, Elvis Costello & the Attractions, the Police

2004: Prince

2005: The Pretenders, U2

2007: R.E.M.

2008: Madonna

2009: Run-DMC

2012: Guns N Roses

2013: Public Enemy

2014: Nirvana

2015: Green Day

2017: Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur

2020: Notorious B.I.G.

2021: Foo Fighters, Jay-Z

2022: Eminem

2023: Missy Elliott

Find the Rock Hall online or read our list of induction predictions for upcoming years.

If you’re planning a visit, see our guide for hotels near the Rock Hall, and things to do near the Rock Hall.

Last Updated on April 28, 2026