The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2022 has been announced - featuring nearly an entire ballot of first-time nominees.
For the first time ever, a predominant amount of inductees (five of seven) started their careers or enjoyed a major wave of success in the 1980s. Duran Duran and Lionel Richie received honors, as will Pat Benatar and Eurythmics. Rounding out the list of performer inductees is rapper Eminem, singer/songwriter Carly Simon and country icon Dolly Parton.
READ MORE: Five Reasons Carly Simon Should Be in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Both recipients of the hall's Musical Excellence Award are well known for their '80s work. Judas Priest helped mainstream a new wave of British heavy metal in the early '80s, while producers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis emerged as members of Prince-associated funk band The Time to become in-demand songwriters and/or producers for Janet Jackson, George Michael, The Human League, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey and more. Also included are two early influences: calypso icon and activist Harry Belafonte and early 20th century blues guitarist Elizabeth Cotten - and recipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award: Sylvia Robinson, R&B singer turned founder of influential hip-hop label Sugar Hill Records; record producer/mogul Jimmy Iovine; and music business lawyer Allen Grubman.
In a rare occurence for the Hall, nearly every inductee made their first appearance on the ballot this year. Only Eurythmics Benatar were nominated previously, in 2018 and 2020, respectively. Parton made headlines during the voting by announcing she'd withdraw from consideration - only to quietly recant that position on Friday, April 29 - incidentally, the last day of voting. (Duran Duran handily won the fan poll that week, amassing nearly a million votes.)
READ MORE: Dolly Parton Withdraws from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Contention
An induction ceremony will take place Nov. 5 in Los Angeles.
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