Behind the Scenes at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood & More’s Hidden Moments

This year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction event was a roller rollercoaster adventure of feelings, shock looks, heartfelt speeches and, naturally, excellent songs. Plus, both the course of 2023 conscripts and the evening’s entertainers were extra varied than ever before, many thanks to the Hall’s recurring initiatives to identify a wider series of styles along with the females and individuals of shade that have actually completely altered the landscape of songs right (even with what banished founder Jann Wenner may have said previously this year, something that produced a crackling diss in Bernie Taupin’s approval speech).

And whether it was from the audience or behind the scenes, Billboard existed at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday evening (Nov. 3) to record all of it. The night’s conscripts consisted of Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Chaka Khan, and Bernie Taupin, while the entertainers listing extended Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Elton John, H.E.R., Ice-T, LL Cool J, Miguel, New Edition, Olivia Rodrigo, Queen Latifah, Sia, Stevie Nicks and St. Vincent — numerous of whom quit backstage to respond to individually concerns from Billboard, address journalism space all at once or just take images.

For the very first time ever before, the event was live-streamed, implying followers anywhere might listen through Disney+ to see in actual time. But to learn what cams didn’t catch, maintain checking out listed below to see what you missed out on backstage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, consisting of unique Billboard meetings with Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood and extra:

• Carrie Underwood

  

  Emotions were high as Carrie Underwood appeared of her efficiency recognizing late 2023 conscript and her individual hero George Michael, having actually perfectly vocalized “One More Try” adhering to Adam Levine’s performance of “Faith.” “I don’t know how I feel,” she informed Billboard soon later. “I feel blessed to have been a part of a tribute, but it’s such a bittersweet thing because it’s like, he should’ve been here to sing himself.”

  “For me, I just wanted to do a good job and I wanted to do something I hope he would’ve been proud of,” she proceeded. “I probably made myself way more nervous than I should have. I wanted to do a good job and give him the props that he deserves, because he certainly meant so much to me and my musical upbringing.”

  The Carrie’s Country radio host took place to assess maturing with the Wham! vocalist’s impact, something she credits to her older sis. “They were in control of the radio, so I feel like I got the good stuff real early in life,” Underwood stated. “We didn’t have MTV, I didn’t know what he looked like. I didn’t know anything about him, tight jeans, dancing, I didn’t know any of that. All I knew was his voice, which I was drawn to. I wore my sisters’ cassette tapes out.”

  “Loved his voice always, that’s always what stuck out to me,” she included. “Obviously I learned a lot more about him as I grew up, but was just always a fan of that incredible voice. His tone was absolutely beautiful, he wasn’t afraid to hit high notes in his head voice. He had this kind of soulful cadence about how he would sing things that just made you feel every word. He wanted to make great music, and he did.”

• Olivia Rodrigo

  

  Olivia Rodrigo, that joined her idol Sheryl Crow onstage to aid start the event with an aid on “If It Makes You Happy,” didn’t visit journalism space face to face — yet she did send out Billboard a declaration. “It was an honor to join Sheryl on stage and I am so excited for her to be inducted into the RRHOF!” the young pop celebrity stated. “I am a massive fan of hers and her incredible songwriting. She’s equally as kind as she is talented and I feel so lucky that I was able to be part of celebrating such a legend.”

• Sheryl Crow

  

  After her induction, and prior to her efficiencies recognizing Willie Nelson and the late Robbie Robertson, Sheryl Crow informed Billboard that she seemed like she’d “just been given a shot of adrenaline.” “I won’t be able to process it until I get home and have a little bit of quiet time,” she included. “It’s amazing. Just hearing my name listed with all the other names that are already in the Rock Hall is just incredible to me. It’s not fathomable.”

  “It’s not something that you work toward,” Crow proceeded. “It’s not like, ‘Okay, I’ve got an album, maybe I’ll get up for a Grammy or whatever.’ It’s based on the entirety of your career. Sitting down and writing a speech and reflecting on the last 36 years, it’s impossible to even digest all of it. The main thing for me is reflecting on how many people are in my life because of music.”

  The nine-time Grammy victor additionally opened concerning passing the lantern to young songwriters like Rodrigo, that respect her equally as long as she respects tales like Stevie Nicks (that was additionally at Barclays Friday evening and done “Strong Enough” with Crow). “All I can say is I paid homage to the women that were before me, and I know how much they mean to me,” she stated. “I don’t take it lightly at all. I still look to them — my friendship with Stevie Nicks is genuine, but I’m still in awe of her. Yeah, I don’t take it lightly.”

  When she wasn’t onstage, Crow might be seen seated in the target market with her 2 kids, Wyatt and Levi. “If I had to walk away from all of it to raise my boys, I would do that without even second guessing,” showed the 61-year-old artist, that additionally introduced her 11th workshop cd, Evolution, on the day of the event. “They’re proud, and they love that I’m doing something I love. They’re fantastic boys.”

• Chris Stapleton

  

  Chris Stapleton, that executed along with among 2023’s conscripts Willie Nelson, presented for images and addressed a pair concerns from journalism space, admitting he’d had a variety of “starstruck moments” throughout the evening. “Looking out in the audience, Jimmy Page is sitting there,” he stated of the Led Zeppelin guitar player, that made a shock look Friday (Nov. 3) to aid swear in the late Link Wray.

  “You can’t help but be inspired by these things,” Stapleton included. “This is legendary stuff. It’s rare. Just walking up and down the hallways with the people you pass — Flava Flav is behind me in the hallways. It’s a very unique thing to come to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and do anything.”

• Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello

  

  Tom Morello was the only Rage Against the Machine band participant to reveal face at the induction event, discussing after approving the Hall of Fame prize from Ice-T that he’d pertain to “celebrate the fifth member [of the band], which is Rage Against the Machine’s incredible fans.”

  Afterward, he breezed via journalism space just to take a couple of images, holding up a transcribed note analysis “Cease Fire!” before the blinking cams.

• Brittany Howard

  

  Brittany Howard was the initial musician to visit and conversation with Billboard, although she aspired to leave for the phase and begin her The Band homage efficiency with Sheryl Crow and Elton John. “I can’t wait, like literally, I can’t wait,” she stated. “I wish it was right now.”

  “I’m really excited to be here,” Howard included. “Obviously the room is full of incredible artists. I’m gonna try and get around and meet most people, but who I’m really targeting is Missy Elliott. I grew up from a very young age watching her perform and just be the beauty queen she is, a strong, powerful, creative Black woman.”

  “I’m super excited to see Sheryl Crow,” proceeded the Alabama Shakes guitar player. “Sheryl doesn’t know this, but I’m a massive fan. Every time she comes up and talks to me, I kind of get a lump in my throat.”

  Howard additionally teased that brand-new songs — even more especially, a complete cd — gets on its means. “I just want Billboard to know, I’m coming for your charts,” she hinted, her newest solitary “What Now” having actually currently shown up mid-October. “You’ll see me soon. It’s an entire album, and it’s something I’ve produced and created to be an emotional, but also physically visceral experience. This album is closer to my skin than I’ve ever been. It comes out very soon, in fact you’ll find out so soon when it comes out.”

• Peter Frampton

  

  Peter Frampton informed Billboard that he “couldn’t be happier” to be present at the 2023 event, soon after shredding guitar along with Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks for an electrical efficiency of “Everyday Is a Winding Road.” “She said it was a favor, but I would’ve run here when Sheryl asked me to play,” the rock celebrity stated. ‘I’ve been a substantial follower for as long, after that I learnt about ten years ago that I was her initial performance, to ensure that’s why she wished to have me below this evening.”

  “I’m here because of Sheryl. It’s a wonderful gift she gave me,” Frampton included. “She deserves everything she gets, every award she gets. She’s a very talented and selfless person. She’s always helping other people. You know, you could never call her diva, she’s just a lovely person.”

• Andrew Ridgeley

  

  Andrew Ridgeley went to the event to induct his late Wham! bandmate George Michael right into the Hall of Fame, noting among the evening’s most bittersweet minutes. “It was an honor, and something I felt a personal obligation to do — an obligation to my great friend,” the guitar player informed Billboard later. “I would’ve been slightly put out if it had been someone else, to be honest.”

  “I think he would’ve been really flattered,” included Ridgeley, in feedback to what Michael would certainly have considered the evening’s honors. “He took these things seriously. He took the accolades and the respect of his peers seriously. That meant a lot to him.”

• Chaka Khan & Sia

  

  After taking the phase with each other in event of Chaka Khan‘s long-awaited induction, the Rufus vocalist and Sia took on the press room side by side. The two women didn’t response concerns, although Sia did vocalize a couple of bars of her hit “Chandelier” for the little celebration of professional photographers and reporters — and indeed, her voice is equally as effective in the real world as it appears in recordings.

• New Edition

  

  New Edition looked dapper in matching velour tuxes as they travelled through the Rock Hall press space, soon prior to taking the phase to carry out in honor of The Spinners. “This was our dream, and this dream has come true tonight,” Michael Bivens stated in behalf of his bandmates. “It’s gong to be one of the biggest performances of our career, and we’re just happy to be sharing it with you.”

 

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