Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G., Judas Priest among 2020 Rock Hall nominees

Nine of the 16 artists under consideration for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are first-time nominees.

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Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston are among the 16 acts nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2020 class.

Notorious B.I.G. and Whitney Houston are among the 16 acts nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 2020 class.

AP Photos

Whitney Houston, The Notorious B.I.G. and the Dave Matthews Band are among the 16 nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame it was announced Tuesday.

Joining them for 2020 induction consideration are:

  • Pat Benatar
  • Depeche Mode
  • The Doobie Brothers
  • Judas Priest
  • Kraftwerk
  • MC5
  • Motörhead
  • Nine Inch Nails
  • Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
  • Todd Rundgren
  • Soundgarden
  • T.Rex
  • Thin Lizzy

Nine out of the 16 nominees ( Dave Matthews Band, The Doobie Brothers, Motörhead, The Notorious B.I.G., Pat Benatar, Soundgarden, T.Rex, Thin Lizzy and Whitney Houston) are first-timers for Rock Hall consideration. An artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to nomination year.

Music fans can vote their choice for inductee selections beginning Oct. 15 (through Jan. 10, 2020) at rockhall.com. The top five artists will, according to Tuesday’s announcement, comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to choose the 2020 inductees.  Official nominee ballots are sent to an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists, historians and members of the music industry.

The induction ceremony will be held May 2, 2020 at Public Auditorium in Cleveland.  

Chicago’s own Chaka Khan (shown at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2018) and Rufus are among the 2020 nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Chicago’s own Chaka Khan (shown at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2018) and Rufus are among the 2020 nominees for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times


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