By Okla Jones ·Updated February 25, 2026 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready…

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its nominees for the Class of 2026, unveiling one of its most genre-spanning ballots in recent memory. Revealed Wednesday, this year’s list includes 17 nominees, representing 18 artists, and blends rock mainstays with R&B icons, hip-hop pioneers and global pop stars.

According to the Rock Hall of Fame, leading the nominees are Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, New Edition, Sade, Luther Vandross, and Wu-Tang Clan, alongside The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Billy Idol, INXS, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Pink, and Shakira.

Ten artists appear on the ballot for the first time, including Hill, Vandross, New Edition, and Wu-Tang Clan. Hill becomes eligible 25 years after the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, her 1998 debut that won Album of the Year at the Grammys and left a lasting imprint on R&B and hip-hop. Wu-Tang Clan’s 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) reshaped rap’s sound and business model. New Edition, who debuted in 1983 with Candy Girl, helped define the modern boy group blueprint. Vandross launched his solo career in 1981 with Never Too Much after years as one of the industry’s most sought-after background vocalists.

Several artists return to the ballot. Mariah Carey receives her third nomination, while Sade earns their second after a 2024 nod. Both remain influential figures whose catalogs continue to resonate across generations.

Artists become eligible for nomination 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording. The final Class of 2026 will be selected by an international voting body of more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals.

The inductees will be announced in April, with the official ceremony set to take place this fall.  Additional inductees will also be named who are entering the Hall under three special committee categories: Musical Influence, Musical Excellence and the Ahmet Ertegun Non Performer Award.

TOPICS:  luther vandross Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame sade

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Author: Okla Jones

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