Iconic NJ Singers Named As Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees

Two iconic New Jersey singers have been named as inductees to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

Newark native Queen Latifah and former Fort Lee resident Celia Cruz are among multiple artists who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

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Those being inducted in the performer category include Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan, according to a news release from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Cruz and Latifah will both be inducted via the Early Influence Award, alongside Fela Kuti, MC Lyte and Gram Parsons.

The award is given to artists whose "music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock & roll and music impacting culture."

Linda Creed, Arif Mardin, Jimmy Miller and Rick Rubin will all be inducted through the Musical Excellence Award, while Ed Sullivan will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

“Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is music’s highest honor,” said John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “We look forward to celebrating these remarkable artists at this year’s ceremony – it’s going to be an unforgettable night.”

Scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 14, in Los Angeles, CA, the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will debut on ABC and Disney+ in December.

To be eligible for induction, an individual artist or band must have released their first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination.

Phil Collins, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan are all first-time nominees, while Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis and Sade have all been nominated in the past.

“This is beyond incredible!” Queen Latifah commented on a post about her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “With Celia!!! Luther!!! Lyte!!! Billy Idol!!! the Wu!!! and on and on and on!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥wow.”

Born Dana Owens in Newark, NJ, in 1970, Queen Latifah grew up in a music-loving household and is today known as “the original female superstar from hip-hop’s golden age.”

She is a Grammy Award-winning artist best known for songs such as “U.N.I.T.Y.” and “Ladies First” as well as her acting roles on sitcoms like “Living Single” and the film “Set It Off.”

In 2021, she became the first hip-hop artist to be awarded the BET Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2023, she became the first female rapper to be inducted into the National Recording Registry.

“Her success blazed a trail for women in hip-hop and helped redefine the traditionally male genre,” her bio reads on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website.

Alongside Queen Latifah, Cruz will also be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.

Born Celia Caridad Cruz Alfonso in Havana, Cuba, Cruz was one of 14 children and found her voice through singing lullabies to her younger siblings.

After Castro seized power of Cuba in 1959, she immigrated to the U.S. and is today known as someone who “pioneered Latin pop for the 20th century and beyond with her contributions to Afro-Cuban guaracha style as well as the creation and popularization of salsa.”

Known for hits such as “La Vida es un Carnaval” and “Vasos Vacíos,” Cruz has won three Grammys and earned 14 nominations, as well as the Hispanic Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award, Billboard Awards and more.

In July 2003, Cruz passed away at her home in Fort Lee at 77 years old following a battle with brain cancer.

“Through her powerful sound and vibrant image, Cruz was the voice of love and freedom post-Cuban Revolution and during the U.S. Civil Rights Movement,” her bio reads on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame website. “Cruz sold over thirty million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling Latin artists to date.”

To learn more about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026, you can click here.