Photo credit: DJ Johnson
George Michael appears to be the fan favorite among the nominees for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
The late British superstar singer’s official Twitter account tweeted the news. “Over a million votes! George wins the #RockHall2023 fan vote. Thank you to all the amazing fans who voted for George every day. Thank you for your continued support,” the tweet said reads.
According to the tally, George Michael received 1,040,072 votes from fans who voted online or in person at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Those following the 2023 nominations closely this year reveal that George Michael has been the fan favorite at the top since March.
Other nominees include Cyndi Lauper (928,113 votes), Warren Zevon (634,130 votes), Iron Maiden (449,682 votes) and Soundgarden (427,040 votes). Fan voting doesn’t secure induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — but it helps. The top five on the list will be listed together on a single fan ballot, which will be aggregated with the official voting members’ ballots. The official nominees for the 2023 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class are expected to be announced in May.
The nominees for this course were announced earlier this year and include Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliot, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners and A Tribe Called Quest, The White Stripes, Warren Zevon.
To be eligible for a nomination, an individual artist or band must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to their first nomination. Eight of those 14 nominees are voting for the first time this year, including Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliot, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, The White Stripes and Warren Zevon. This is the first year of eligibility for Missy Elliott and The White Stripes.