Rock Hall of Fame 2018 Includes Nina Simone and Bon Jovi

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees includes four first-time nominees.

rock hall of fame
(L-R) Musicians Phil X, Jon Bon Jovi and David Bryan of the band Bon Jovi perform onstage at The Forum on March 8, 2017 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)

Nina Simone and Bon Jovi lead the 2018 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. The list includes four first-time nominees, including Dire Straits, The Moody Blues, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The Cars are also included in the 2018 class. The six inductees were chosen from a group of 19 nominees. Tharpe, who died in 1973, was a pioneering guitarist who performed gospel music. She is known to some as the “godmother of rock ‘n’ roll” and will be inducted for the “Award for Early Influence. The other five acts will all be inducted as performers. Simone, who was a first-time nominee, was a leader in pushing for civil rights. She died in 2003, but not before influencing Alicia Keys and Aretha Franklin. Bon Jovi has been nominated before. They have sold more than 120 million albums and launched No. 1 hits with Livin’ on a Prayer, among others. Each year, between five and seven acts usually make into into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The decision is made by 1,000 voters, including performers, music historians, and industry experts.

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