Duran Duran, Dolly Parton & More React To Being Selected For The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

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As we told you, inductees for the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame were just announced with this year’s class made up of Dolly Parton, Eminem, Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Lionel Richie, Eurythmics, and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

In addition, inductees in special categories include Judas Priest, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, for Musical Excellence, Jimmy Iovine, Allen Grubman and Sylvia Robinson, for the Ahmet Ertegun Award and Harry Belafonte and Elizabeth Cotton, in the Early Influence category.

Following the announcement several artists shared their reaction to the news, including: 

• In a video posted to social media, Duran Duran shared that they are “so honored and thrilled and happy,” adding, “really want to thank our fans, the people that have been voting for us, really really pushing, giving us the people’s vote, we’re really proud of that.”
• Frontman Simon LeBon added, “It’s one thing to be nominated — but a totally different thing altogether to be actually voted up for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which is to my mind the closest thing you’ll ever get to a rock & roll knighthood,” noting, “This truly is a special and most valued kind of recognition for our lifetime’s dedication to new music.”
• Dolly Parton shared on social media, “I am honored and humbled by the fact that I have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” adding, “Of course I will accept it gracefully. Thanks to everyone that voted for me and to everyone at the @rockhall. I will continue to work hard and try to live up to the honor.”
• Dolly later joked to Billboard, "People usually [say] ‘Dolly rocks’ or ‘you rock’ or ‘you’re a rock star.’ I thought they just meant that I was cool, and I took that as a great compliment. But now I’m going to have to take it literally!”
• “Being elected to @rockhall is an incredible honor,” Lionel Richie shared, “I would like to say THANK YOU to all of the voters, to all of my wonderful fans and to everyone at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Congratulations to all of my fellow 2022 inductees! #rockhall2022.”
• The Eurythmics posted on social media, “Thank You to everyone who voted for #eurythmics and congratulations to the other inductees @rockhall 🎵,” with Annie Lennox adding, “Well - Eurythmics made the grade, thanks to every single one of our truly loyal ‘fans’! The appreciation goes to YOU! Much love from Annie and Dave!”
• Judas Priest’s Rob Halford told Billboard, “And glory hallelujah, there’s another metal band in now. That’s the blessing we’ve all been waiting for.” He also joked, “All I want is a self(ie) with Dolly Parton.” As for getting in with the Musical Excellence Award he noted, “That’s totally unexpected. That’s just a very extra thrill to have that.”
• Pat Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo tweeted, “We are thrilled and humbled to become part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame family. Thank you to everyone who voted especially the fans and congratulations to all the other inductees.”
• “We are overjoyed to announce that we have been elected to The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2022,” Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis share. “There was a time when we were just two scrappy kids from Minneapolis, who loved music and wanted to share it with the world,” adding, “Knowing now that this is where we’d end up is, to say the least, incredible. Thank you so much to the voters, everyone at @rockhall and of course the fans, without whom none of this would be possible.”