Missy Elliott, George Michael, Chris Cornell Among 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

It’s the Woke & Roll Hall of Fame.

This year, the nominees for the inaugural edition of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — music’s most exclusive club — range from a black female rapper to a gay male pop heartthrob to an ’80s icon known as much for human rights as artistic achievement.

On Wednesday morning, Missy ElliottGeorge Michael, Cyndi Lauper and Cyndi Lauper made it onto the final list for induction into the 2023 Rock Hall Class. They are not the only ones that represent the white male establishment of so called “The White Male Establishment”. “classic” Rockers have dominated the institution.

RRHOF has run out of old men to enshrine, but it is not surprising.

Whether it’s in their heart or not — let’s hope it is — they have to look beyond the traditional types from the ’60s and ’70s school of rock upon which the organization was built.

Another nominee who is a first-timer is Sheryl Crow, who surprisingly is just getting a nod after being eligible since 2019, while repeat contenders include Kate Bush — no doubt The encouragement of “Stranger Things”-driven success This is “Running Up That Hill” — the New York hip-hop posse A Tribe Called Quest and protest rockers Rage Against the Machine.

And following Dolly Parton’s induction in 2022 — After she first withdrew,, thinking that she wasn’t “rock” enough — there’s also country legend Willie Nelson getting his first nomination at almost 90.

And while other first-time nominees — including the White Stripes , Warren Zevon and the new-wave mash-up of Joy Division/New Order — feel more like usual suspects, there has definitely been a significant shift in the rock hall.

Last year, they inducted Parton, Eminem and Lionel Richie — none of whom could “rock” They made their way out of a paper bag. Jay-Z was there before. Whitney HoustonThe Notorious B.I.G. Janet Jackson and The Notorious B.I.G.

And this year, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame even found a little love in its heart for the Spinners — the smoothest of ’70s soul vocal groups — right alongside rock gods Iron Maiden and Soundgarden.

Here’s hoping that more inclusion and diversity will be represented when the inductees — which fans can vote for at vote.rockhall.com — are announced in May.