Sometimes, it appears the people doing the nominations for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame forget the first three words of the museum's title. Rock is the key, but the board has lately given out honors to country musicians and hip-hop artists.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with those genres, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shouldn't be an all-encompassing music museum. It is there to elevate rock and induct musicians who helped make the genre great. This is just one reason the Hall's penchant for not involving heavy metal artists is so odd.
With the induction ceremony just having been completed for 2025, we are only a few months from the 2026 ballot being released. Every February, music fans see a list they can argue about and vote for. All the fan votes are tabulated into just one vote, however.
What could the ballot for the 2026 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame look like?
This allows the Rock Hall to keep out unworthy bands who might win a fake popularity contest when fans of a certain band flood the voting. Such was the case with Phish in 2025, which won the fan vote but rightfully was not inducted by the museum board.
Will Phishheads get a chance to vote for their favorite band again in 2026? Hopefully not, and it is unlikely. Instead, if 14 musical artists make the ballot, which happened in 2025, quite a few R&B artists might have a real chance at induction.
One of these performers will be on their first ballot. Alicia Keys released her excellent Songs in A Minor in 2001, and 25 years must pass between an artist's first release and being on the ballot for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Keys has had a very good career and done a bunch of collaborations, but should she really be in the Rock Hall?
Other R&B or hip-hop artists who could help make up the list of performers who could potentially be inducted might be Boyz II Men and De La Soul. Meanwhile, heavier rock acts such as Tool, Iron Maiden (who should have been in on their first ballot), and Billy Idol could be nominated as well.
Idol was likely close to making the Hall in 2025. He deserves to in 2026.
Others who might make up the group could be Phil Collins, Selena, Beck, INXS, Culture Club, and No Doubt. In other words, the 2026 ballot might be a bit underwhelming, but hopefully, a few worthy artists get inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.