The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently announced the nominees for the induction class of 2023. While some are classic rock greats, many artists for this year’s nomination music are not primarily considered rock and roll performers, showing that the hall is evolving in its music choices. 

Here is a look at the nominees:

Kate Bush, of recent Stranger Things fame for her song “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God),” has been nominated four times for the Rock Hall, but has yet to be inducted. Bush’s debut album The Kick Inside was released in 1978, but most people recognize the album cover for her 1985 album Hounds of Love, with the iconic purple background. 

Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow is not new to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; she inducted Fleetwood Mac into the Rock Hall in 1998. Crow is known for songs such as “All I Wanna Do” and “Soak Up the Sun.”

Missy Elliott is a hip-hop artist known best for her 1997 debut, Supa Dupa Fly. As with Eminem’s induction last year, her nomination shows that the Rock Hall has been recently expanding to include rap.

Also in their fourth year of nomination, the Spinners are an R&B and soul group formed in 1957. Their music almost rivals that of the Jackson 5, and they are best known for songs like “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” and “I’ll Be Around.”

Speaking of artists with several previous nominations, Rage Against the Machine has accumulated its fifth this year. Their self-titled debut album came out in 1991 and included “Killing in the Name.” They are also known for Zack De La Rocha’s vocals on their 1996 record Evil Empire.

Bringing in hard rock, Iron Maiden is considered one of the most influential metal bands. Their self-titled debut was released in 1980, and the band has sold 200 million copies to date. 

Soundgarden, best known for “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman” from their 1994 album Superunknown, has been nominated for the second time. Their debut album was released in 1988. 

The English band Joy Division only released two albums, but they are credited by many bands as an influence, including 2023 nominee Soundgarden. Later, the surviving members of Joy Division formed the band New Order.

The ’80s queen Cyndi Lauper, known for iconic hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time” has also been nominated. Her debut album, She’s So Unusual, was released in 1983. 

Originally of Wham!, icon George Michael has also been nominated. In addition to the Wham! hits “Last Christmas” and “Wake Me Up (Before You Go-Go),” his solo career included “Freedom ‘90” and “Careless Whisper.”

Willie Nelson, a key figure in the outlaw country breakthrough in the 1960s and 1970s, was nominated. His first solo album, …And Then I Wrote was released in 1962. 

Influential rap group A Tribe Called Quest has been nominated this year for the second time. They were formed in Queens, New York, in 1985. 

The White Stripes, known for the stadium anthem “Seven Nation Army,” has been nominated in its first year of eligibility. The duo’s album cover designs all incorporate red, black, and white.

And last but not least, Warren Zevon, best known for “Werewolves of London,” has been nominated. Most consider Zevon’s most famous record to be his 1978 Excitable Boy.

An artist must have released their first record more than 25 years prior to be eligible for nomination. Because of this rule, this is the first time Missy Elliott and the White Stripes could have been nominated. 

According to rockhall.com, “fans around the world participate in the induction selection process through the Fan Vote. …The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a ‘fans’ ballot’ that will be tallied along with the other ballots to determine the 2023 Inductees.”

The fan voting closes on April 28, and the Class of 2023 inductees will be announced in May. Fans can vote for their top five nominated artists each day at vote.rockhall.com.