Surprising absolutely no one, the ever-elusive Kate Bush will not be attending tonight's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony honouring the 2023 class of inductees that also includes Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, the Spinners and Rage Against the Machine. However, she has offered one of her only somewhat less-rare statements instead.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the ceremony tonight, but for me the real honour is knowing that you felt I deserved it," Bush wrote on her website. "The RRHOF has welcomed me into the most extraordinary rostrum of overwhelming talent."
The singer-songwriter reflected on her "surprisingly successful" 2022 and the grand resurgence of "Running Up That Hill" spawned by Stranger Things, which also got her nominated for Rock Hall induction last year. She went on to pay homage to fellow honouree, Musical Excellence Award recipient Bernie Taupin.
"When I was growing up my hero was Elton John," Bush said. "I poured over his music, longed to be able to play piano like him and longed to write songs that could move people in the way his work moved me. That little girl in South East London could never have dreamed she'd be sharing the event tonight with Bernie Taupin, Elton's writing partner, an incredible lyricist who inspired me to keep writing songs — to keep trying."
She added, "I'm only five foot three, but today I feel a little taller."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is streaming live on Disney+ tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Read the full statement from Bush below.
I am completely blown away by this huge honour — an award that sits in the big beating heart of the American music industry.
Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. I never imagined I would be given this wonderful accolade.
Last year was such a surprisingly successful time for my track Running Up That Hill and I'm sure that a lot of you who've voted me in to the RRHOF also drove that track up the charts. Thank you!
I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the ceremony tonight, but for me the real honour is knowing that you felt I deserved it.
The RRHOF has welcomed me into the most extraordinary rostrum of overwhelming talent.
When I was growing up my hero was Elton John. I poured over his music, longed to be able to play piano like him and longed to write songs that could move people in the way his work moved me.
That little girl in South East London could never have dreamed she'd be sharing the event tonight with Bernie Taupin, Elton's writing partner, an incredible lyricist who inspired me to keep writing songs — to keep trying. Congratulations Bernie! Congratulations to everyone who is being inducted tonight!
Music is at the core of who I am and, like all musicians, being on the journey of trying to create something musically interesting is rife with feelings of doubt and insecurity.
I'm only five foot three, but today I feel a little taller.
Kate
"I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the ceremony tonight, but for me the real honour is knowing that you felt I deserved it," Bush wrote on her website. "The RRHOF has welcomed me into the most extraordinary rostrum of overwhelming talent."
The singer-songwriter reflected on her "surprisingly successful" 2022 and the grand resurgence of "Running Up That Hill" spawned by Stranger Things, which also got her nominated for Rock Hall induction last year. She went on to pay homage to fellow honouree, Musical Excellence Award recipient Bernie Taupin.
"When I was growing up my hero was Elton John," Bush said. "I poured over his music, longed to be able to play piano like him and longed to write songs that could move people in the way his work moved me. That little girl in South East London could never have dreamed she'd be sharing the event tonight with Bernie Taupin, Elton's writing partner, an incredible lyricist who inspired me to keep writing songs — to keep trying."
She added, "I'm only five foot three, but today I feel a little taller."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is streaming live on Disney+ tonight at 8 p.m. ET. Read the full statement from Bush below.
I am completely blown away by this huge honour — an award that sits in the big beating heart of the American music industry.
Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. I never imagined I would be given this wonderful accolade.
Last year was such a surprisingly successful time for my track Running Up That Hill and I'm sure that a lot of you who've voted me in to the RRHOF also drove that track up the charts. Thank you!
I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the ceremony tonight, but for me the real honour is knowing that you felt I deserved it.
The RRHOF has welcomed me into the most extraordinary rostrum of overwhelming talent.
When I was growing up my hero was Elton John. I poured over his music, longed to be able to play piano like him and longed to write songs that could move people in the way his work moved me.
That little girl in South East London could never have dreamed she'd be sharing the event tonight with Bernie Taupin, Elton's writing partner, an incredible lyricist who inspired me to keep writing songs — to keep trying. Congratulations Bernie! Congratulations to everyone who is being inducted tonight!
Music is at the core of who I am and, like all musicians, being on the journey of trying to create something musically interesting is rife with feelings of doubt and insecurity.
I'm only five foot three, but today I feel a little taller.
Kate
