Taylor Swift serenaded Carole King, former US President Barack Obama praised rapper JAY-Z, and Paul McCartney paid tribute to the Foo Fighters on Saturday at a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony that also honoured Tina Turner and The Go Go’s.
Obama videoed 23-time Grammy winner JAY-Z “the embodiment of the American dream” for his rise from a poor New York neighbourhood to a billionaire songwriter, record executive and businessman.
JAY-Z, 51, seemed overwhelmed by the tributes, including one from comedian Dave Chappelle.
‘That is a lot. I’m trying to make myself cry in front of all those white people!’ he joked. “Growing up, we didn’t think we could be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We were told that hip-hop was all the rage.”
Swift opened the show with a pop version of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” while Jennifer Hudson sang “A Natural Woman” in honour of singer-songwriter King, 79, who led the audience in a sing-along of her hit song “You’ve Got a friend.”
“I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know Carole King’s music,” Swift said, calling her 1971 “Tapestry” album “a turning point for people in the world with feelings.”
The Cleveland, Ohio ceremony was packed with A-listers, including Dr Dre, Eminem, Jennifer Lopez, Lionel Richie and Keith Urban.
Christina Aguilera led a medley of Turner’s greatest hits.
The “Simply the Best” singer, who now lives quietly in Switzerland, was unable to attend on Saturday’s ceremony, but thanked via video.
“If they’re still giving me awards at 81, I must be doing something right,” Turner said.
Turner first received the honour in 1991 with her former husband Ike Turner, but on Saturday she was celebrated for her even bigger solo career in the 1980s and 1990s.
King and Dave Grohl were also twice honourees. King was previously inducted with her songwriting partner Gerry Goffin, while Foo Fighters frontman Grohl was a member of the grunge band Nirvana that was inducted in 2014.
McCartney said he and Grohl were both “regular, crazy” kids who had somehow fallen into rock and roll music.
Female 1980s rock band The Go-Gos, rapper LL Cool J, German electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, and the late Billy Preston were also inducted.
American multi-instrumentalist Todd Rundgren, 73, did not show up for his own inaugural ceremony. Rundgren had said he wouldn’t attend because he didn’t see music as a competition.
The awards recognise artists who have worked in the music industry for more than 25 years. They are selected based on ballots sent to more than 1,200 artists, historians and members of the music industry by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The public has also voted.
The 2021 ceremony will air on HBO cable on November 20. — Reuters
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