The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is lining up talent for their Cleveland induction ceremony at the end of this month.
It looks like Angela Bassett will be part of the toast to Tina Turner, who is likely not coming from Switzerland to Cleveland in person. (Even if she were well, I mean, really.) Bassett was Oscar nominated for playing Tina in her biopic, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”
Paul McCartney is on the list to induct the Foo Fighters, although it’s unclear if he’ll be there in person or via Zoom. It’s a little ironic since Billy Preston, who was the unofficial fifth Beatle, will be inducted posthumously. Billy is getting a lot of attention right now for his rediscovered work on “Let it Be.” On the new anniversary box set, Preston sings lead on “Without a Song – Jam,” the only time one of the Fab Four didn’t sing lead on one of their songs.
Others advertised for the Cleveland ceremony are Jennifer Hudson (performing for Carole King), Taylor Swift (inducting and performing for Carole King), Lionel Richie (inducting Clarence Avant), and performing for Tina Turner: Mickey Guyton, HER, Christina Aguilera, Bryan Adams. (Yikes. Really?) For no apparent reason, Drew Barrymore is inducting the Go-Gos (ditzy blondes?).
There’s no word yet on who’s inducting Todd Rundgren (I guess it should be Hall & Oates). And the others — Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and Gil Scott-Heron for Early Influence, LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads for Musical Excellence — no word on what’s happening with them.
The 36th annual Induction Ceremony on October 30th at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. It airs November 20th on HBO.
