Missy Elliott Celebrates Her Historic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction: “I Can’t Stop Crying”

Missy Elliott has, once again, proven that she’s one of a kind with her latest career milestone. On May 3, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation unveiled its 2023 inductees, with Elliott making the list as the first woman hip-hop artist to earn the musical honor. Immediately after the news was announced, the icon expressed her excitement about being inducted on Twitter.

“I want to say this is HUGE not for just me but all my Sisters in HIPHOP this door is now OPEN to showcase the hard work & what many of us contribute to MUSIC,” Elliott tweeted. “I have cried all morning because I am GRATEFUL thank you @rockhall & all on the committee & Supafriends?.”

In another tweet, she raved about repping the honor for her hometown and added, “I can’t stop crying??? I am from Portsmouth Virginia aka P-Town.. #757 to 804 I send my love?You day dream of these moments but today it’s Real???? VA 2 up 2 down the 7 Cities all my folk I am GRATEFUL???.”

Elliott’s historic achievement – which comes just ahead of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in August – first made headlines back in February when she was revealed to be one of the many artists nominated this year. “This is an incredible honor. I’m so humbled and grateful to be counted amongst all the incredible honorees,” she said in a press release at the time, per E! News. “I’ve spent my career making the kind of music I love and it means so much to know that I have touched others as well.”

As a 2023 inductee, Elliott will be recognized alongside other performers like Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and The Spinners. Other inductees include hip-hop icon DJ Kool Herc (best known as the father of hip-hop) and guitarist Link Wray, who will both receive the musical influence award, and Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin, who will all receive the musical excellence award. The late Don Cornelius, the creator of “Soul Train,” will also be recognized with the Ahmet Ertegun award.

Elliott’s musical legacy traces all the way back to the late ’90s, when she burst onto the scene with her debut album, “Supa Dupa Fly,” in 1997, which was led by her iconic first solo single, “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly).” Since then, Elliott has garnered a reputation for being one of the most daring, innovative, and influential artists of our time. She’s worked with major collaborators like her longtime friend Timbaland, the late Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and many, many more.

In addition to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Elliott has earned multiple trophies from the Grammys, ASCAP, the American Music Awards, and the MTV VMAs, the latter of which honored her with the coveted Michael Jackson video vanguard award in 2019. She also scored a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2021.