Missy Elliott Is Going to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Joining Rage Against the Machine, Kate Bush, and More

Missy Elliott is going to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The hip-hop icon was among the 2023 inductees announced on Thursday, joining Kate Bush, Rage Against the Machine, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, the Spinners, and Willie Nelson. Elliott became the first female rapper ever nominated for the honor earlier this year.

“We’re very happy with this year’s class,” said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame CEO and President Joel Peresman, per Rolling Stone. “People always try to pigeonhole what rock and roll is, but our story has always been that it’s a wide tent. It includes all different kinds of genres. We think this class really shows the breadth of rock and roll. When you have Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, and the Spinners along with Rage Against The Machine and Willie Nelson, you’re covering a lot of things.”

During this year’s ceremony, which will unfold at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Nov. 3, DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will receive the Musical Influence Award. The Musical Excellence Award, meanwhile, will be given to Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and longtime Elton John songwriter Bernie Taupin. Soul Train creator Don Cornelius will be honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award posthumously. 

“This year’s incredible group of inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock’n’roll,” added John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. “We are honored that this November’s induction ceremony in New York will coincide with two milestones in music culture; the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson and the 50th Anniversary of the birth of hip-hop.”

At the Grammy Awards in February, Elliott was among the performers who celebrated hip-hop’s 50th anniversary.

Missy took to her social media accounts on Wednesday to share gratitude for her exciting achievement, highlighting the official poster of the announcement. 

“It’s times I have gotten on line & seen your irrelevant your a flop your washed up & it would crush me at times,” she wrote. “BUT God you made me STRONG I kept going & you allowed my decades of WORK to SPEAK 4 itself. I am HUMBLED. Thank you all my Supporters. I LOVE YOU.” 

In an array of tweets, the MC responded to multiple accounts congratulating her. 

She also reposted congratulations from Janet Jackson, Ciara, and Erykah Badu.