Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Unveils 17 Nominees Including Mariah Carey, P!NK and Wu-Tang
The rock and roll hall of fame announced a 17-name ballot on Wednesday, Feb. 25 (ET), expanding the field slightly from recent years and sending a mixed cohort of first-time nominees and repeat contenders into the awards conversation immediately. The list includes 10 artists nominated for the first time and seven with prior nominations.
Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees and who made the list
The slate names Southern blues-rockers The Black Crowes; singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley; pop star Mariah Carey; Phil Collins; Melissa Etheridge; Lauryn Hill; Billy Idol; INXS; Iron Maiden; Joy Division/New Order; New Edition; Oasis; P!NK; Sade; Shakira; Luther Vandross; and Wu-Tang Clan. The announcement counts 17 nominees but notes 18 different artists technically because of the Joy Division/New Order designation.
Notable first-time nominees and debut years
Ten of the nominees are first-time eligible picks. Several of those first-time nominations are tied to specific debut recordings that put them past the 25-year eligibility threshold: P!NK's debut album was released in 2000, making her the most recent act among the new nominees; Lauryn Hill's solo debut arrived in 1998; Jeff Buckley's sole studio album came out in 1994; Wu-Tang Clan's debut appeared in 1993; Shakira's first commercial release dates to 1991; Melissa Etheridge debuted in 1988; New Edition first recorded in 1983; Luther Vandross' solo debut came in 1981; Phil Collins' solo debut also dates to 1981; and INXS's debut is listed from 1980.
Repeat nominees, eligibility rule and what to watch next
Seven nominees on this ballot have been nominated before. Mariah Carey, for example, is on the ballot for a third time, having been up previously in 2024 and 2025. An artist becomes eligible for Rock Hall nomination 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording, a rule that helps explain why a mix of older acts and later-era breakout stars appear together on the ballot.
Phil Collins is a distinctive case: he is a first-time solo nominee but already holds induction status as a member of another group. If Collins were to be inducted again as a solo artist, he would become the 29th artist to be inducted at least twice. The slightly larger 17-name ballot — versus the 14 or 15 slots in recent years — broadens the lobbying and discussion cycle in the run-up to voting and induction announcements.
Key takeaways
- 17 nominees announced on Feb. 25 (ET); 10 are first-time nominees, seven have prior nominations.
- Debut years cited for first-time nominees span 1980–2000, reflecting the 25-year eligibility rule.
