Rock Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023: Best Moments From the Induction Ceremony

Sheryl Crow Opens the Show With Olivia Rodrigo

Sheryl Crow opened the 2023 ceremony with Olivia Rodrigo by her side. With Crow on electric guitar and Rodrigo on acoustic, the duo delivered a fist-pumping duet on “If It Makes You Happy.” Rodrigo was all smiles, and after the “I still get stoned” lyric, the audience roared its approval. After a hug, they left the stage, with Laura Dern, of all people, coming out to give a heartfelt induction speech.

Stevie Nicks & Peter Frampton Rock Out With Sheryl Crow

After the Rodrigo duet and a speech from her pal Laura Dern, Crow was back on the stage for a one-two punch. Crow blended her voice with fellow Hall of Famer Stevie Nicks on “Strong Enough,” after which Peter Frampton — whom Crow described as “one of my heroes” — joined Crow and Nicks to rock out to “Everyday Is a Winding Road.”

Miguel, Adam Levine and Carrie Underwood Pay Homage to George Michael

George Michael – who died seven years ago on Christmas Day – was a vocal dynamo, the rare pop star whose celebrity was matched by their vocal prowess. So it only made sense that the night’s most vocally impressive moment came during his homage. After an induction by Wham! bandmade Andrew Ridgley, who got a big laugh describing Michael as “the not quite so good looking one in Wham!,” Miguel crooned “Careless Whisper,” followed by Adam Levine singing a slinky “Faith.” But Carrie Underwood stole the show with a soul-rending “One More Try,” imbuing it with all the hurt, yearning and quiet grace of Michael’s original.

Big Boi, St. Vincent Celebrate Kate Bush

Big Boi – who’s been stumping for Kate Bush’s unique genius way before her Stranger Things breakthrough – was the natural choice to offer an induction speech for the art rock icon, who sadly didn’t attend the ceremony in person (but sent in a heartfelt thanks). “I’m the White House press secretary for Kate Bush,” the OutKast MC joked. “It does not surprise me at all that she’s enjoyed a huge surge of popularity decades after she arrived on the scene,” he said, noting that if you’d only heard her for the first time in recent years, “Why wouldn’t you think she’s a current artist?” St. Vincent, who said Bush’s 1989 classic The Sensual World left her “forever changed,” sang a haunting version of “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God).”

Dave Matthews Hails Willie Nelson, the Outlaw Country Saint

Dave Matthews – a longtime friend of Willie Nelson and performer at his Farm Aid benefit concerts – gave a fiery induction speech to Willie Nelson, saying Nelson is one of the people who gives him hope in a world that “drops bombs on children and calls it collateral damage or self-defense.” He also hailed Nelson for doing TV commercials to pay off his tax debts. “[He was] taking the money from the corporations and giving it to the government, which is what you should be doing anyway.”

Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton and Dave Matthews Join Willie Nelson for a Jam

DJ Kool Herc Tears Up

DJ Kool Herc took the stage with his sister Cindy Campbell, which was only appropriate. After all, Herc’s culture-changing DJ set at a South Bronx housing project on Aug. 11, 1973 — often cited as the beginning of hip-hop – was a party to raise money for his sister’s back-to-school wardrobe. The full-circle moment was not lost upon him. “There’s tears in my eyes, I’m sorry,” he said, pausing a moment to collect himself. “Some people is not here,” he said, mentioning James Brown, Harry Belafonte, Marcus Garvey and others. “A lot of people, man. I love ‘em.”

New Edition Sings The Spinners, Fetes ‘Soul Train’

The Spinners melded the soul of Detroit and Philadelphia and paved the way for generations of vocal groups. New Edition, dapper as all get out in crushed red velvet suits, delivered a medley of hits from the influential group, starting with “I’ll Be Around” and wrapping with a Soul Train-styled dance off that served as a fitting segue into a Don Cornelius tribute.

Chaka Khan Medley Brings Out Sia, H.E.R., Common

After far too many nominations, Chaka Khan finally got her Rock Hall flowers and then some at the ceremony. The video montage boasted Michelle Obama and Joni Mitchell, with the former calling her “transcendent” and the latter calling her “exceptional” and “the GOAT.” When Khan hit the stage, it was hard to believe she’s a great grandmother: A duet with H.E.R. on “Sweet Thing” was, to crib Mrs. Obama’s word, transcendent; Common filling in for Melle Mel on “I Feel for You” was inspired; and her duet with Sia (and Sia’s enormous wig) on “I’m Every Woman” was a bizarre treat.

Jimmy Page Makes Surprise Appearance to Rip Through Link Wray

Jimmy Page – one of the best and most influential guitarists of all time – made an unannounced appearance at the Rock Hall to induct the late Link Wray. Page appeared in a video montage about the power chord pioneer, calling Wray his “hero” and saying, “if ever there was a guitarist who deserved this, it was Link Wray.” But when the lights came up and the Led Zeppelin legend was on stage in the flesh, the crowd went crazy. Busting into “Rumble,” Wray’s iconic instrumental, Page looked happy as hell playing a song he’s loved his whole life on a double-necked guitar. And the crowd ate up every moment, with Elton John blowing him a kiss as he took the stage to induct Bernie Taupin.

Bernie Taupin Roasts Jann Wenner

Elton John, Brittany Howard, Sheryl Crow & Chris Stapleton Honor Robbie Robertson

After a montage of the artists we’ve lost over the last year, an all-star roster came out to pay homage to the late Robbie Robertson, “This is for you, Robbie,” Sheryl Crow said as she and Chris Stapleton kicked off a moving rendition of The Band’s “The Weight.” Brittany Howard, whose voice is reliably unimpugnable, came out to deliver a jaw-dropping verse, and toward the end of the song, the lights revealed Elton John had returned to the ivories, joining the band to close out a song that is part of the gospel of rock n’ roll.

Tom Morello Stirs Up Some Trouble at the Rock Hall

Missy Elliott Brings the Night to a Raucous Close