The 2026 Rock Hall of Fame Nominees & Our Annual B&V Picks For Our Fan Ballot

*Image above of the Rock Hall of Fame taken from the internet and likely subject to copyright

With every passing year the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, aka the Rock Hall, becomes less relevant to fans. It’s really a Pop music hall of fame if we’re being honest. Maybe that’s why rock fans, who are notoriously parochial about their chosen genre, largely don’t care about the Hall. But I think the musicians do care based on what McCartney said in his new documentary, so that’s got to count for something, right?

Every year I tell myself I’m through with the Rock Hall. I vow I won’t even look at the list of candidates. But then the Hall jettisoned Rolling Stone founder and all around tool, Jann Wenner. I felt that was a step in the right direction. And then last year, 2025, they came up with an interesting selection of candidates. Then, much to my surprise as he wasn’t on the ballot, the Hall inducted Warren Zevon, who I’ve been advocating for constantly over the years. Just when I think I’m out, they pull me back in.

As I perused the list of 2026 candidates I have to admit, overall I think it’s another interesting list. I mean, Shakira and Xmas crooner Mariah Carey aren’t my thing, but if I view this as the Pop music hall of fame, I guess their nominations track.

I’m not cool enough to have been a fan of Joy Division/New Order. I guess I should play some of their music but I’ve never heard anything that grabbed me there. And I’m not the most proficient hip hop guy. I know the Wu-Tang Clan are a very influential rap group, but again, that’s not my cup of tea. For those who haven’t checked yet – and why would you? – here are this year’s nominees, and I think it’s a pretty strong list, all things considered.

• The Black Crowes – Stalwart, newly reunited rock band, steeped in the blues.
• Jeff Buckley – Troubadour son of a troubadour, tragically died young by drowning in the Mississippi.
• Mariah Carey – Pop singer and Xmas icon.
• Phil Collins – Drummer for Genesis turned solo superstar to the point of overexposure.
• Melissa Etheridge – Midwest, “meat-and-potatoes” rocker.
• Lauryn Hill – Former Fugee. Her debut solo album is a masterpiece.
• Billy Idol – Punk/New Wave/Hard Rock legend. Recently admitted to smoking crack to get off heroin. You don’t get more rock n roll than that kind of ill-advised behavior.
• INXS – Fabulous Australian band whose lead singer’s life was cut short.
• Iron Maiden – Heavy metal monsters.
• Joy Division/New Order – Legendary alt rockers who carried on (under a new name) after the loss of lead singer Ian Curtis.
• New Edition – R&B/hip hop, New Jack Swing group boasting Bobby Brown as a member.
• Oasis – English rock/Britpop band formed by warring brothers. Recently reunited for a tour.
• Pink – Pop songstress with an attitude!
• Sade – Singer with the smoothest voice you’ll ever hear.
• Shakira – Latin singer/dancer. Her hips are almost as famous as her voice.
• Luther Vandross – One of our greatest soul singers. Once sang backup for Bowie.
• Wu-Tang Clan – Legendary hip hop collective. Favorite of Dave Chappelle.

There’s a little for everybody on that list. I thought about voting for Melissa Etheridge as she’s from just down the road over in Leavenworth, Kansas. It’s a fort/prison town. She’s a pretty straight up rock n roller. She’s also a big Chiefs fan which is a bonus for me, but alas, I did not vote for her. I was never a huge Jeff Buckley fan so no vote there. And I was an early fan of Phil Collins (“In The Air Tonight”) but he was so over exposed in the 80s I can’t listen to him anymore.

Without further ado, here are the 7 acts I chose on my “Fan Ballot.” You can all go out to the Rock Hall website and cast your vote as well. Apparently you can vote once every day until they close the thing down. I don’t even know if the bands we vote for get in automatically or what the rules are. I vote once, as a symbolic gesture. Here’s my picks:

• The Black Crowes – No surprise here, I love the Crowes. They’ve been up and down but for the most part they have an outstanding body of work. They just released two new songs from their upcoming album A Pound Of Feathers, the follow-up to 2024’s wonderful Happiness Bastards. 
• Lauryn Hill – I must state for the record, I had a crush on this woman in the 90s but that in no way influenced my vote. I think her debut solo album, The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill is sheer genius. It’s enough to put her in the Hall.
• Billy Idol – We all thought he was weird with the hair, curled lip and his constant punching the air, but Billy Idol is the kind of rock n roll rebel the Hall needs!
• INXS – I’m stunned these guys aren’t in already. The 80s were their biggest decade. I used to listen to ’87’s Kick on cassette while I drove up and down Highway 71. Michael Hutchence belongs in the Hall.
• Iron Maiden – These guys are one of the biggest heavy metal bands ever. I was always put off by the “scary monster” imagery but if you listen to the tunes, they’re quite melodic. Like INXS, I can’t believe they’re not in.
• Oasis – One of the Rock Chick’s favorite bands. If I didn’t cast this vote I’d have to sleep in the garage. They reunited for a tour last year but I’m not hearing any rumblings about them following that up with new music. Brothers forming bands, what are you gonna do?
• Sade – Sade has the most beautiful, smooth voice I’ve ever heard. She could be described as pop but her music was always more nuanced and sophisticated than mere pop. A well deserved nomination and I’m pleased to vote for her.

Those are the B&V choices. I know I could have gone in a lot of different directions with this year’s ballot but these are the acts I felt the most strongly about. If you have a different ballot please share it in the comments. I’m always interested in what folks think about this – even though I probably shouldn’t care about the Rock Hall… but here I am again.

It’s important that you get out and vote. Your vote is your voice. If you don’t vote someone shitty might try to put their name on the Rock Hall too…and in the words of Robert Plant, “I don’t think that’s right…”

Cheers!