Honoring #WomenWhoRock, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is hosting a series of Women’s History Month events and programs celebrating the achievements of some of music’s most notable female artists.
The Rock Hall’s 2023 Nominee ballot also features incredible female trailblazers, including Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, Cyndi Lauper, Gillian Gilbert of New Order and Meg White of The White Stripes. Fans can cast their votes in the official Fan Vote now through April 28th at rockhall.com.
Special events, programs, and artifacts honoring #WomenWhoRock include:
March 10th
New Artifact from Inductee Patti Scialfa of The E Street Band
Legends of Rock Exhibit
The Rock Hall is adding Scialfa’s Takamine acoustic guitar played on the Tunnel of Love tour to the E Street Band exhibit in Legends of Rock.
March 14th
Wanda Jackson Exhibit
Pioneers Gallery
Spotlighting the first “Queen of Rockabilly,” this new exhibit will include 2009 Early Influence Inductee Wanda Jackson’s 1950 Martin acoustic guitar, a stage-worn dress that she designed herself, as well as other artifacts from her iconic career.
March 16th
“Women in Country” Virtual Interview with Amanda Shires & Martina McBride
Rock Hall YouTube, 7PM Eastern
Shelby Morrison, the Rock Hall’s Director of Curatorial Operations & Artist Relations sits down with Amanda Shires & Martina McBride to discuss their music careers. To correspond with the premiere, artifacts from Amanda Shires’ recent Take It Like a Man album will be added to the Right Here, Right Now exhibit.
March 23rd
Soak Up the Sun: The Music of Sheryl Crow Exhibit Opening
Through her powerhouse solo performances, collaborations with industry icons, and early session musician work, 2023 Nominee Sheryl Crow’s influence reverberates through 1990s rock, pop, country, folk, blues, and the work of countless singer-songwriters. Highlighting moments throughout her incredible career, this exhibit features artifacts such as handwritten lyrics to “Leaving Las Vegas,” the leather jacket worn in the “All I Wanna Do” music video, and the outfit worn for Crow’s 2018 Bonnaroo performance. “I am thrilled and honored to have a featured exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” said Crow. “Thank you to the Rock Hall team for curating and thanks to all my fans for all the support and love throughout the years.”
March 29th
Chaka Khan Special Appearance and Exhibit Opening
Closing out the month, legend, icon, and 7-time Nominee, Chaka Khan sits down with Rock Hall Director of Curatorial Operations & Artist Relations, Shelby Morrison for a special interview celebrating both Chaka’s 50th anniversary in the music industry and her 70th birthday. Five outfits from Chaka Khan’s iconic 50-year career in the industry will be added to the Legends of Rock exhibit.
Highlighted Artifacts
Throughout the Museum, we have extensive exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of women and Rock & Roll. Highlighted pieces include Janis Joplin’s handwritten lyrics to “Move Over,” Joan Jett’s Les Paul deluxe electric guitar, Elizabeth Cotten’s 1983 Martin custom acoustic guitar, and Annie Lennox’s jacket from the music video for the feminist anthem “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves,” a 1985 duet with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.
Now Available
New materials added to Rock Hall EDU
Rock Hall EDU, free online learning resources
Bring the spirit of Women’s History Month into your classroom with free materials and collections including Rock & Roll and Women’s Rights Collection, Women Who Rock Collection, The Supremes Collection, Whitney Houston Collection, Dolly Parton Collection, Carole King Collection, Mavis Staples Collection, Aretha Franklin Collection, and more. Sign up now for your free account to access these materials.
EDU From the Vault
Dive into our Women Who Rock Collection featuring interviews, performances, and Induction highlights. Spotlighted Inductees include Carly Simon, Pat Benatar, Michelle Phillips, Joan Baez, and more!
Rock Hall celebrates Women Who Rock on Spotify
Listen, download and follow the Rock Hall’s latest playlists on Spotify featuring the most influential #WomenWhoRock from the 50s through the 90s.
Women played a central role in the development of rock & roll, beginning with early blues artists, like Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith, and gospel artist Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Spirited rhythm-and-blues singers – such as Ruth Brown, LaVern Baker, and rockabilly star Wanda Jackson added their creative talents to popular music through its explosive growth in the ‘50s. Girl groups, like the Shirelles and Supremes, and the Rock Hall’s first female Inductee Aretha Franklin dominated the charts in the ‘60s while Janis Joplin, Grace Slick and Joni Mitchell carried the torch into the ‘70s. Artists such as Joan Jett, Ann Wilson, Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, The Go-Go’s, Patti Smith, and Stevie Nicks paved the way for women in the ‘80s and ‘90s with their music and style. And, blazing through the 21st century includes the incredible voices of St. Vincent, Janelle Monae, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and new generations of trailblazers who were influenced by those before them.
