Rock Hall Nominee Power Rankings: Who’s Rolling on Top?
Overanalyzing the odds of our 14 contenders.
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For everyone hollering about the strange ballots, stuffy voters, and inevitable snubs — don’t worry, we’ll get the B-52’s in one day — those who make the annual pilgrimage for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s ceremony clock it for what it truly is: an extravagant all-star concert to celebrate the life’s work of musicians, whether they deserve it or not. Why get yourself into a tizzy when Rob Halford and Dolly Parton are nuzzling to “Jolene” together? Or Jimmy Page coming out of his self-imposed guitar retirement to shred for Link Wray’s ghost? So, in the spirit of Drew Barrymore recreating the cover of Beauty and the Beat, it’s time to commit to the bit and have some fun. Let’s speculate on who’s getting inducted next.
The 2025 shortlist consists of 14 very different artists with devoted followings. We’re not here to defend or question each act’s credentials — the Rock Hall has deemed all of them potential inductees because they “created their own musical style and attitude and impacted generations of music lovers.” (The only strict requirement is you become eligible 25 years after the release of your first recording.) But, like any astute power ranking, there are certain tells about which nominees have an advantage. By synthesizing criteria such as recency bias, promotional campaigns, FutureRockLegends voting data from official voters, the populist Fan Vote, and general thirst for recognition, it’s clear that several artists currently have an edge over others. (This is now my first year as a member of the voting body, and yes, my ballot is public.) Let’s reconvene here in a month when the official class is announced to see if I’m indeed a wizard, a true star of predictions.
Cyndi Lauper
The Groundswell: The past year has doubled as a victory lap for Cyndi Lauper, between her farewell arena tour and a documentary, Let the Canary Sing.
The Math: Second nomination after being eligible since 2009. She’s currently the official voters’ top choice and has a strong fifth-place showing in the Fan Vote.
Do They Even Care? She does, with restraint. Lauper released a statement when the nomination list went public, thanking the Rock Hall and her fans in equal measure. “From the start, I’ve just wanted to make music that means something to people, that lifts them up and makes them feel seen,” she wrote. “This honor, should I get in, is as much for them as it is for me.” Lauper hasn’t been shy to critique the organization, though. When Jann Wenner was removed from the Rock Hall’s board in 2023 for offensive comments about women and Black musicians, she diagnosed him as “a little senile.”
OutKast
The Groundswell: OutKast is the sole hip-hop nominee, making their induction path the clearest among all artists. There’s also the excitement of a potential reunion, as André 3000 and Big Boi haven’t performed together in over a decade.
The Math: First nomination despite being eligible since 2019. Second place with the voting body, but sitting in the 12th spot with the Fan Vote — the biggest discrepancy among all nominees.
Do They Even Care? André 3000 and Big Boi co-signed a social-media post in gratitude of the nomination, and the group’s Instagram account directs people to the Fan Vote. André 3000 declined additional comment to Vulture. Big Boi, who previously inducted his hero Kate Bush into the Rock Hall, told Vulture it’s an honor to be recognized and that he “definitely” plans to attend the ceremony if inducted. “It’s like the last Infinity Stone in my Thanos glove. It’s not even something I thought was on the table when we started making music,” he told us. “When you think about the Rock Hall, you think of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, and all of these legendary rock bands. It’s been cool to see them move into other genres and it’s a huge honor to be considered alongside people I’ve admired since I was a kid.”
Bad Company
The Groundswell: Foreigner walked so Bad Company could run. Robert Plant, Alice Cooper, Sammy Hagar, Ronnie Wood, and Neil Schon have all released respective stump speeches in support of the band, with Schon going so far as to say it’s a “sin” that the quartet isn’t already in. It helps that, somehow, Bad Company is the only classic-era band on the shortlist — there’s no other guitar-wielding septuagenarians to compete against.
The Math: Inaugural nomination after 25 years of eligibility puts them behind Chubby Checker and Joe Cocker for the longest wait time. Sitting comfortably in second position in the Fan Vote. Ballot tracking among official voters suggests they’ll be in the top half of nominees.
Do They Even Care? Yeah, and they’re earning villain status because of it. Despite Paul Rodgers once saying he rejected an invitation to be part of the Rock Hall because “I don’t think rock and roll belongs in a museum,” the band has been on an all-out press blitz about the nomination. There are also overly acquiescent videos thanking the organization, including one in which Simon Kirke flat out says, “See you in November.” Maybe appear a bit less collusion-y?
Billy Idol
The Groundswell: Billy Idol has had a remarkably busy few years. State Line Live at the Hoover Dam, his 2023 concert film, was a hoot; his 2024 re-release of Rebel Yell reminded listeners of his ’80s star power; and he’s gearing up for a summer arena tour. Idol’s first album in a decade, Dream Into It, will be out later this month.
The Math: Nominated for the first time since being eligible in 2007. Sitting in third place for the Fan Vote and the top half for the voting committee. Good optics.
Do They Even Care? He wants it. Idol’s various social-media pages have acknowledged the nomination and he’s encouraging fans to use their voice with the Fan Vote. “I could’ve never imagined this when I was 30,” he told Vulture in February. “I was really knocked down.” He also appeared at last year’s ceremony to celebrate Ozzy Osbourne, shrewdly planting seeds about a future induction for himself.
Mariah Carey
The Groundswell: Mariah Carey has been an ubiquitous presence in pop culture for three decades and has a chokehold on the holiday season. Kind of the opposite of an elusive chanteuse, if you think about it.
The Math: Second nomination, a year after fellow solo powerhouses Cher and Mary J. Blige edged her out. Bottom half for the Fan Vote — where’s the Lambily? — but top half for the official voters. A classic split.
Do They Even Care? Diva does, with a few complaints! Carey has made her enthusiasm known on various social-media channels and considers the nomination to be an “incredible honor.” Just don’t bring up the fact that Carey’s lawyer, Alan Grubman, got inducted first.
Joe Cocker
The Groundswell: Paul McCartney jumpstarted Cocker’s campaign by writing an open letter about how the artist was “a great man and a fine singer whose unique style made for some fantastic performances.” ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons soon followed, waxing about how Cocker was “the very embodiment of rock and roll in terms of talent and spirit.” Billy Joel even took it upon himself to share, for the first time, a video originally recorded in 2014 where he read aloud a letter he wrote to the Rock Hall to get Cocker inducted — whom he calls “maybe the greatest male vocalist in rock and roll.” Oh, and the Rock Hall’s top boss told us last year how Cocker was one of his personal priorities.
The Math: Eligible since 1994, making him the second-longest wait among nominees after Chubby Checker. First nomination. In an encouraging six-place position for both the Fan Vote and official voters.
Do They Even Care? Cocker died of lung cancer in 2014. Prior to his death, he never offered an opinion of the organization, nor did he ever attend a ceremony, but Cocker’s widow believes he would’ve been pleased with the honor.
Joy Division/New Order
The Groundswell: New Order is still bringing their dark and pulsating beats to the masses with a frequent touring schedule, where they honor their lineage by including several Joy Division songs in the set lists.
The Math: Previously nominated in 2023 and eligible for nearly two decades, they join several others in the “second time’s maybe the charm” club. Third place for official voters, but trailing in tenth place for the Fan Vote.
Do They Even Care? There are two answers to this. Peter Hook, a co-founder of Joy Division who has since been siloed off from New Order following a 2011 legal asset battle, is tickled by the nomination. The other faction of Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert — who still actively perform as New Order — don’t seem to care at all. They’ve never mentioned the Rock Hall in interviews or on social media, and requests for comment from Vulture were declined.
Oasis
The Groundswell: If there’s any year for an Oasis induction, it’s this one. The impossible happened with Liam and Noel Gallagher bruv-ing their differences aside and reuniting for a massive reunion tour, with the band circumnavigating the world’s stadiums starting this summer.
The Math: Second nomination after failing to make the final cut last year. Second to last in the Fan Vote, as well as in the bottom quadrant for official voters. You’d think there’d be a stronger showing given the shock factor of the reunion.
Do They Even Care? As with anything involving the brothers, proceed with skepticism and a parka. Liam has reversed his previous “wank award” and “load of bollocks” platform and now says he would enthusiastically attend his band’s induction. Back in 2017, though, Noel was unsparing in his negativity toward the organization, saying he was approached by a Rock Hall executive about Oasis’ future induction chances: “He started going on and I said, ‘Let me fucking stop you there. I know what it is. I know what it entails, and it won’t be fucking happening, okay?’” Noel declined comment when asked by Vulture if his views have changed since then. The band’s social-media accounts haven’t mentioned the Rock Hall.
Soundgarden
The Groundswell: The band dissolved following Chris Cornell’s suicide in 2017. Besides the release of separate live and compilation albums in 2019, the rest of Soundgarden has remained dormant.
The Math: Fourth nomination, which puts the band as the most-snubbed act on this year’s ballot. A solid fourth-position for the Fan Vote and in the top half for regular voters, making a case that they could maybe get out of that bridesmaid position.
Do They Even Care? Yes, if you can believe it. Back in 2013, Cornell inducted Heart into the Rock Hall and was part of one of the most spectacular super-jams in ceremony history, shredding to a cover of “Crossroads.” His widow now says while Cornell “never believed in accolades,” he would “nonetheless be very honored” by the band’s induction. Kim Thayil has spoken warmly about the organization, recently saying it’s “a very pleasant surprise.”
Phish
The Groundswell: These brothers are a bunch of mellow workhorses with the most loyal fanbase a band could ask for. And their 2024 was epic: a new album, a prolonged tour, and a coveted Sphere residency.
The Math: First nomination after 11 years of eligibility. Soaring high with the Fan Vote’s top spot, but official voters are a bit cooler: They’re in the bottom quadrant.
Do They Even Care? They do, but Trey Anastasio is being deferential to other nominees. He stated in February that Phish wouldn’t make his personal ballot this year despite his appreciation of the organization, stressing, “I’m not making the Oasis statement that it’s bollocks or whatever. It’s really meaningful.” Anastasio also inducted Genesis into the Rock Hall in 2010, with Phish performing “Watcher of the Skies” on behalf of their prog masters.
The White Stripes
The Groundswell: Jack and Meg White have been inactive as a group since 2009, and recent attempts to locate Meg have affirmed just how retired she is from public life. But could an induction finally lure her back out? Would she and Jack reunite? Are we just spewing nonsense?
The Math: Second nomination after being passed over in 2023 with their first year of eligibility. In the bottom half for both fans and official voters — the water beneath the oil.
Do They Even Care? Your guess is as good as ours. Jack, Meg, and the band’s social-media accounts have never nodded to the Rock Hall, and Jack declined comment when asked by Vulture. You may think Jack has appeared at a previous ceremony given his other associations with industry events, but he never has.
Chubby Checker
The Groundswell: Well, a lot of people seem surprised Chubby Checker is still alive and touring, so …
The Math: A first-timer and eligible since 1986, which gives him the distinction of the oldest performer on this year’s ballot. Seventh place in the Fan Vote — which nets him the final spot — and in the bottom quarter for the regular voting body. His most famous song, “The Twist,” was inducted into the Rock Hall’s short-lived Singles category in 2018, which recognized songs that shaped the genre.
Do They Even Care? He’s twisted with this one. Back in 2004, Checker staged what news outlets described as a “good-natured” protest days before the ceremony occurred in Manhattan, where he complained about the lack of radio play for “The Twist” and how the Rock Hall refused his requests to hang a portrait of him in the Cleveland museum. (Yes, this has nothing to do with the nominees themselves — just weirdly specific gripes.) Now, Checker has posted about the nomination on his social-media pages without additional commentary.
The Black Crowes
The Groundswell: Consistent kings. They’ve been recording and touring for decades — including a summer jaunt starting in just a few weeks.
The Math: First nomination after nearly a decade of eligibility. Second to last in the public ballot tracker and bottom half of the Fan Vote.
Do They Even Care? Consider them this year’s flip-flopper. (You started a trend, Cher.) In 2017, Chris Robinson told Howard Stern that the Rock Hall didn’t interest him in the slightest and he would refuse to attend if the Black Crowes were ever inducted. “It’s like going to the mall or something,” he asserted at the time. But now? Robinson insists he’s a changed man. “All sarcasm aside, it’s amazing to be thought of. It’s amazing to be included,” he course-corrected in February. Fellow co-founder (and younger brother) Rich Robinson is even thinking so far ahead that he wants friend and mentor Jimmy Page to do their induction speech.
Maná
The Groundswell: Maná, arguably the most influential and popular Latin American band of all time, constantly tour at an arena level and will embark on a lengthy trek throughout America in 2025. They’re also the first Spanish act ever to be nominated in Rock Hall history.
The Math: First nomination. Dead last for both official and Fan Vote ballots.
Do They Even Care? They care just as much as they’re surprised. The band’s collective statement says the honor was “almost impossible to imagine” and “we want to share this recognition with all Latinos of the world.”
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