Predicting the Rock Hall inductees for 2023

The nominees are:

• A Tribe Called Quest
• Kate Bush
• Sheryl Crow
• Missy Elliott
• Iron Maiden
• Joy Division/New Order
• Cyndi Lauper
• George Michael
• Willie Nelson
• Rage Against the Machine
• Soundgarden
• The Spinners
• The White Stripes
• Warren Zevon

How it works: A voting pool of more than 1,200 music historians, journalists and previous inductees will select 5-7 final inductees who will be announced in May.

💭 My thought bubble: A lot more men have been voted into the Rock Hall than women. That probably makes Willie Nelson and George Michael — the ballot's two biggest male stars — locks.

• Women will still have their say. Cyndi Lauper's fan support should sway voters, while Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" viral moment puts her in great position.
• Newly eligible artists have been safe bets in recent years. That trend should continue with The White Stripes and Missy Elliott.
• If there's a seventh inductee, look at The Spinners. The group has been nominated three times before but doesn't have to worry about splitting votes with any other R&B artist.