Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Tina Turner, and More Nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

In their first year of eligibility, Jay-Z and Foo Fighters have earned Rock Hall of Fame nominations alongside music legends Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick.

This year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations were announced today, including Jay-Z, Foo Fighters, Dionne Warwick, Mary J. Blige, Tina Turner, Iron Maiden, the Go-Go’s, Rage Against the Machine, Kate Bush, Devo, Chaka Khan, Carole King, Fela Kuti, LL Cool J, New York Dolls, and Todd Rundgren. A panel of more than 1,000 music historians, artists, and industry members will vote from the list, and the top choices will be announced in May. An induction ceremony will take place at the musuem in Cleveland, Ohio in the fall.

For several of the nominees (Foo Fighters, Jay-Z, Tina Turner, Fela Kuti, Dionne Warwick, the Go-Go’s, and Iron Maiden), this year marks their first appearance on the ballot. To be considered, an act's first single or album must have a release date in or before 1995. Jay-Z's debut record Reasonable Doubt dropped in 1995, as did Foo Fighters' self-titled album, making this the first year of eligibility for both acts.

Singers Carole King and Tina Turner have already been inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. King joined in 1990 as a non-performer, and Turner in 1991 as a part of a duo with her ex-husband, Ike. However, if chosen, this would be both women's first time inducted as solo singers, making them the second and third women to be inducted twice after Stevie Nicks. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl is also a previous inductee as the drummer for Nirvana.

In a statement, a representative for the Hall of Fame noted that the 2021 nominations feature nine performers of color, making this the most racially diverse group since 1996.

“This remarkable ballot reflects the diversity and depth of the artists and music the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame celebrates,” Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation Chairman John Sykes explained. “These nominees have left an indelible impact on the sonic landscape of the world and influenced countless artists that have followed them.”

Last year's Hall of Fame inductees included Nine Inch Nails, Whitney Houston, the Notorious B.I.G., Depeche Mode, T. Rex, and the Doobie Brothers.