Rock Hall Class of 2024 Stirs Praise, Snubs and Old Resentments
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2024 this week, unveiling a diverse lineup of 16 inductees that immediately sparked the familiar cycle of celebration and criticism that has come to characterize the institution's annual selections.
Leading the performer category are Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Mary J. Blige, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & the Gang, and Peter Frampton. The Music Excellence category honors the late Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, and Norman Whitfield, while Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton receive recognition in the Music Influence category. Suzanne de Passe will receive the Ahmet Ertagan Award for her contributions to music and film.
Yet the news has already generated significant reaction, mixing celebration with sharp contradiction.
For Cher, the induction represents a striking reversal of her very public position. In December, the legendary performer appeared on the Kelly Clarkson Show and delivered a pointed critique of the institution. "I'm not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame," she said then. "You know what, I wouldn't be in it now if they gave me a million dollars. I'm never going to change my mind. They can just go you-know-what themselves." This year marks her first nomination—and first induction—presenting a stark contradiction as news of her honor spreads through the music world.
Jimmy Buffett's induction carries different weight. The yacht rock icon, who passed away in September after a long battle with skin cancer, was not among the original nominees but received a fast-track honor in the Music Excellence category as recognition of his lasting influence on popular music and culture. His posthumous induction joins a selective tradition of artists recognized after their passing, with the Hall of Fame citing musical excellence rather than a formal vote process.
The snubs have drawn equally sharp reactions. Liam Gallagher launched a particularly pointed criticism in February when Oasis was announced as a nominee, calling the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame "full of BUMBACLARTS" and dismissing the ceremony as "a load of bollox." He questioned whether the institution was "fishy" and expressed skepticism about its legitimacy. This week's announcement that Oasis failed to secure induction is unlikely to change his assessment or soften his criticism.
Among those who missed out are Mariah Carey, Sade, Sinéad O'Connor, Jane's Addiction, Eric B & Rakim, and Lenny Kravitz. O'Connor's exclusion drew particular attention, given her death in 2023 and the widespread expectation that she would receive posthumous recognition alongside artists like Buffett.
The pattern reflects deeper questions about how the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame defines and honors its subject—questions that annual controversy shows no sign of resolving.
The 2024 induction ceremony takes place on October 19 in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The event will broadcast on ABC with livestream access via Disney+ and availability on Hulu the following day.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Class of 2024 includes 16 inductees: performers Cher, Ozzy Osbourne, Mary J. Blige, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, Kool & the Gang, and Peter Frampton; Music Excellence honorees Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick, and Norman Whitfield; Music Influence inductees Alexis Korner, John Mayall, and Big Mama Thornton; and Ahmet Ertagan Award recipient Suzanne de Passe.
In December, Cher publicly stated on the Kelly Clarkson Show that she would refuse induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, saying she wouldn't accept the honor 'for a million dollars.' This year's announcement of her induction directly contradicts that earlier stance.
The induction ceremony takes place on October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. It will broadcast live on ABC, with livestream access via Disney+ and availability on Hulu the following day.