For close to 30 years, Mary J. Blige has reigned as the undisputed queen of hip-hop soul. Now, her deserved status and years of lasting contributions to the music industry has earned her 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination.
Even as the only artist with Grammy wins in four distinct genres, this marks the first time Blige has been invited to be a part of a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class.
Music trailblazers Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, and Dionne Warwick are also among the 16 nominees.
Khan, who released her 10th studio album Hello Happiness in 2019, is nominated for the third time as a solo act. She previously received a nomination in 2020 as a member of the Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan. The iconic band has been nominated four times.
Warwick, a living legend with a celebrated 50-year career, is now a first-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee. Last year, Warwick released She’s Back, her first dedicated R&B/soul album since 1969’s Soulful. She is currently working with Chance The Rapper and The Weeknd on a surprise collaboration.
Tina Turner, widely known as the queen of rock & roll, hopes to secure her second induction, this time as a solo act. She was inducted in 1991 as a band for her stint as Ike & Tina Turner. If Turner and Carole King are selected, they will become the second and third female acts to be inducted twice.
To be considered eligible, an individual artist or band must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years before the year of nomination.
Fans can vote for their favorite artists via the official Rock Hall website now through April 30. Inductees will be announced in May 2021. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2021 Induction Ceremony is scheduled to take place this fall in Cleveland, Ohio.
See the full list of nominees here.