Fans of hip-hop, country, pop, funk, R&B and rock all have reason to cheer the 2023 class entering the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
— Sheryl Crow and Olivia Rodrigo kicked off the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Friday night with an electric rendition of the Crow’s hit “If It Makes You Happy,” two generations of singer-songwriters bonding over a crunchy 1990s rocker.
The two singers — both in black — traded verses as they both played guitars. At the song’s end, Rodrigo pointed to Crow, who made a small bow. Stevie Nicks later joined Crow for a performance of “Strong Enough” and Peter Frampton came out to help sing “Everyday Is a Winding Road.”
“This is a little bit like getting an Oscar for a screenplay you have not finished writing,” Crow said. She thanked her parents for unconditional love “and piano lessons.” She called music a “universal gift.”
Fellow inductees Missy Elliott, Chaka Khan and Willie Nelson also were expected to be taking the mic. The ceremony in New York City is streaming live for the first time on Disney+.
Laura Dern inducted Crow, calling her friend “a badass goddess.” Dern said the music business initially had no idea what to do with a Southern female guitar-playing singer-songwriter. But it soon learned.
