On this evening’s American Idol, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the Class of 2026, and if you are wondering why they would announce it during American Idol, so are we.

Nevertheless, this is where the announcement came from, and let’s look at who comprises the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

Inducted are:

Phil Collins:  Eligible since 2007, inducted on his first time on the ballot.  Already inducted as a member of Genesis, Collins enjoyed huge success as a solo artist with hits like “In the Air Tonight”, “I Missed Again”, “You Can’t Hurry Love”, “Against All Odds”, “Sussudio”, “Take Me Home”, and “A Groovy Kind of Love”.  Whether he was singing rock, pop, or blue-eyed soul, Collins was a permanent fixture on the music scene throughout the 1980s.  Collins has not been in the greatest health as of late, and it is good to see him earn this accolade.

Billy Idol:  Eligible since 2007, inducted on his second time on the ballot (was nominated in 2025).  Idol brought pop-punk to the forefront with songs like “White Wedding”, “Rebel Yell”, “Flesh for Fantasy”, and “Eyes Without a Face”.  While his career cooled off in the early 90s, his hits remained eternal.  Idol will be joined by his longtime guitarist, Steve Stevens, as an inductee.

Iron Maiden: Eligible since 2005, inducted on their third time on the ballot (was nominated in 2021 & 2023).  This was a long time coming for the heavy metal gods, but generally, they represent a genre that the Rock Hall generally looks down on.  The inducted members are Clive Burr, Paul Di’Anno, Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers, Steve Harris, Nicko McBrain, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Dennis Stratton & Blaze Bayley.   Wait, Eddie wasn’t inducted?

Joy Division/New Order: Eligible since 2004, inducted on their third time on the ballot (was nominated in 2021 & 2023).  When Joy Division’s lead singer, Ian Curtis, passed away, the rest of the band formed New Order, who leaned further into synth.  Arguably, either incarnation could get in on the strength of “Love Will Tear Us Apart” and “Blue Monday” alone, and this is another case of why it took so long for them to get in.  The inducted members are Ian Curtis, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert.

Oasis: Eligible since 2020, inducted on their third time on the ballot (was nominated in 2024 & 2025).  While Oasis did not have to wait as long as many of the other acts that entered, the leaders of the Brit-Pop movement had a case for immediate induction.  With international hits like “Supersonic”, “Champagne Supernova”, “Wonderwall”, and “Don’t Look Back”, Oasis at one time was the biggest band in the world.  The inducted members are Gem Archer, Paul Arthurs, Andy Bell, Liam Gallagher, Noel Gallagher & Tony McCarroll.

Sade: Eligible since 2010, inducted on her second time on the ballot (was nominated in 2024).  Sade put out some of the most beautiful Neo-soul music of the 1980s, but bluntly, we are surprised that she was the only female act on the ballot to be voted in.  Her signature hits, “Smooth Operator”, “The Sweetest Taboo”, “Paradise”, and “No Ordinary Love” were hits on multiple charts.  Paul Denman, Andrew Hale & Stuart Matthewman were also inducted.

Luther Vandross: Eligible since 2007, inducted on his first time on the ballot.  Vandross was the king of the Quiet Storm era, and his voice provided the backdrop for many sensual moments.  He had seven number ones in the R&B Chart (“Never Too Much”, “Stop to Love”, “There’s Nothing Better Than Love”, “Any Love”, “Here and Now”, “Power of Love/Love Power”, “The Best Things in Life Are Free”, and he was easily one of the most successful R&B acts of the 1980s and early 90’s.  Sadly, he passed away in 2005.

Wu-Tang Clan: Eligible since 2018, inducted on their first time on the ballot.  Like Oasis, this should have been a first-year inductee.  The Wu-Tang Clan is credited with reviving the East Coast hip-hop scene and is considered by many to be the greatest collective of hip-hop talent ever assembled.  Arguably, their debut album, “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” is one of the most important albums ever released.  Inducted are RZA, GZA, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa & Cappadonna.

The acts on the ballot that did not get in were:

The Black Crowes: Eligible since 2016, were also on the ballot in 2025.

Jeff Buckley: Eligible since 2019.

Mariah Carey: Eligible since 2016, was also on the ballot in 2024 & 2025.

Melissa Etheridge: Eligible since 2014.

Lauryn Hill: Eligible since 2023.

INXS: Eligible since 2006.

New Edition: Eligible since 2009.

Pink: Eligible since 2025.

Shakira: Eligible since 2016.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also inducted four new members in the Early Influence Category with Celia Cruz, Fela Kuti, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and Gram Parsons.  Kuti and Parsons are previous nominees.

The Hall also awarded Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller and Rick Rubin with the Musical Excellence Award.

Legendary talk show host Ed Sullivan enters the hall via the annual Ahmet Ertegun Award.

In June, we will revise the Notinhalloffame Rock and Roll list to reflect your votes, comments, and add in the acts who are eligible in 2027.

We here at Notinhalloffame would like to congratulate the incoming members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026.