The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced the first wave of performers and presenters for the induction ceremony on October 19th in Cleveland.
This year's inductees are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest. Alexis Korner, John Mayall and Big Mama Thornton will be given the Musical Influence Award and Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield will be given the Musical Excellence Award.
The inductees who will be performing are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, and Dionne Warwick.
The other performers and presenters are Busta Rhymes, Dr. Dre, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, Ella Mai, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Julia Roberts, Keith Urban, Lucky Daye, Method Man, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Slash and The Roots. The Hall says more will be announced.
Connecting the dots, it's probably a safe bet to say that:
- Jimmy Buffett’s longtime band member Mac McAnally and frequent duet partner Kenny Chesney will take part in him posthumously receiving the Musical Excellence Award.
- Sammy Hagar will probably induct Foreigner seeing as how they both initially made their mark in the '70 and Foreigner's Mick Jones co-produced Van Halen's first album with Hagar, 1986's 5150.
- Slash will induct Ozzy.
- Keith Urban seems likely for Peter Frampton.
- Roger Daltrey seems like a good bet to honor the two late legendary UK blues artists Alexis Korner and John Mayall with the Musical Influence Award
The show will stream live on Disney+ starting at 6 p.m. A three hour highlights show will air on ABC on New Year's Day.