What You Didn’t See Backstage – Billboard

Feelings have been excessive as Carrie Underwood got here out of her efficiency honoring late 2023 inductee and her private hero George Michael, having fantastically belted out “One Extra Strive” following Adam Levine’s rendition of “Religion.” “I don’t know the way I really feel,” she instructed Billboard shortly afterward. “I really feel blessed to have been part of a tribute, however it’s such a bittersweet factor as a result of it’s like, he ought to’ve been right here to sing himself.”

“For me, I simply wished to do job and I wished to do one thing I hope he would’ve been happy with,” she continued. “I in all probability made myself far more nervous than I ought to have. I wished to do job and provides him the props that he deserves, as a result of he definitely meant a lot to me and my musical upbringing.”

The Carrie’s Nation radio host went on to replicate on rising up with the Wham! singer’s affect, one thing she attributes to her older sisters. “They have been in charge of the radio, so I really feel like I acquired the great things actual early in life,” Underwood stated. “We didn’t have MTV, I didn’t know what he appeared like. I didn’t know something about him, tight denims, dancing, I didn’t know any of that. All I knew was his voice, which I used to be drawn to. I wore my sisters’ cassette tapes out.”

“Beloved his voice all the time, that’s all the time what caught out to me,” she added. “Clearly I realized much more about him as I grew up, however was simply all the time a fan of that unimaginable voice. His tone was completely lovely, he wasn’t afraid to hit excessive notes in his head voice. He had this sort of soulful cadence about how he would sing issues that simply made you’re feeling each phrase. He wished to make nice music, and he did.”

Olivia Rodrigo, who joined her idol Sheryl Crow onstage to assist kick off the ceremony with an help on “If It Makes You Completely satisfied,” didn’t swing by the press room in particular person — however she did ship Billboard a press release. “It was an honor to hitch Sheryl on stage and I’m so excited for her to be inducted into the RRHOF!” the younger pop star stated. “I’m a large fan of hers and her unimaginable songwriting. She’s equally as variety as she is gifted and I really feel so fortunate that I used to be capable of be a part of celebrating such a legend.”

After her induction, and earlier than her performances honoring Willie Nelson and the late Robbie Robertson, Sheryl Crow instructed Billboard that she felt like she’d “simply been given a shot of adrenaline.” “I gained’t have the ability to course of it till I get dwelling and have a bit of little bit of quiet time,” she added. “It’s superb. Simply listening to my identify listed with all the opposite names which might be already within the Rock Corridor is simply unimaginable to me. It’s not fathomable.”

“It’s not one thing that you simply work towards,” Crow continued. “It’s not like, ‘Okay, I’ve acquired an album, possibly I’ll rise up for a Grammy or no matter.’ It’s primarily based on everything of your profession. Sitting down and writing a speech and reflecting on the final 36 years, it’s not possible to even digest all of it. The principle factor for me is reflecting on how many individuals are in my life due to music.”

The nine-time Grammy winner additionally opened up about passing the torch to younger songwriters like Rodrigo, who look as much as her simply as a lot as she seems to be as much as legends like Stevie Nicks (who was additionally at Barclays Friday evening and carried out “Robust Sufficient” with Crow). “All I can say is I paid homage to the ladies that have been earlier than me, and I understand how a lot they imply to me,” she stated. “I don’t take it evenly in any respect. I nonetheless look to them — my friendship with Stevie Nicks is real, however I’m nonetheless in awe of her. Yeah, I don’t take it evenly.”

When she wasn’t onstage, Crow could possibly be seen seated within the viewers together with her two sons, Wyatt and Levi. “If I needed to stroll away from all of it to lift my boys, I’d do this with out even second guessing,” mirrored the 61-year-old musician, who additionally introduced her eleventh studio album, Evolution, on the day of the ceremony. “They’re proud, they usually love that I’m doing one thing I like. They’re unbelievable boys.”

Chris Stapleton, who carried out alongside considered one of 2023’s inductees Willie Nelson, posed for images and answered a pair questions from the press room, confessing he’d had numerous “starstruck moments” all through the evening. “Searching within the viewers, Jimmy Web page is sitting there,” he stated of the Led Zeppelin guitarist, who made a shock look Friday (Nov. 3) to assist induct the late Hyperlink Wray.

“You may’t assist however be impressed by this stuff,” Stapleton added. “That is legendary stuff. It’s uncommon. Simply strolling up and down the hallways with the individuals you cross — Flava Flav is behind me within the hallways. It’s a really distinctive factor to come back to the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame and do something.”

Tom Morello was the one Rage Towards the Machine band member to indicate face on the induction ceremony, explaining after accepting the Corridor of Fame trophy from Ice-T that he’d come to “have fun the fifth member [of the band], which is Rage Towards the Machine’s unimaginable followers.”

Afterward, he breezed via the press room solely to take just a few images, holding up a handwritten notice studying “Stop Hearth!” in entrance of the flashing cameras.

Brittany Howard was the primary artist to cease by and chat with Billboard, though she was keen to go away for the stage and begin her The Band tribute efficiency with Sheryl Crow and Elton John. “I can’t wait, like actually, I can’t wait,” she stated. “I want it was proper now.”

“I’m actually excited to be right here,” Howard added. “Clearly the room is filled with unimaginable artists. I’m gonna try to get round and meet most individuals, however who I’m actually focusing on is Missy Elliott. I grew up from a really younger age watching her carry out and simply be the sweetness queen she is, a powerful, highly effective, artistic Black lady.”

“I’m tremendous excited to see Sheryl Crow,” continued the Alabama Shakes guitarist. “Sheryl doesn’t know this, however I’m a large fan. Each time she comes up and talks to me, I type of get a lump in my throat.”

Howard additionally teased that new music — extra particularly, a full album — is on its approach. “I simply need Billboard to know, I’m coming to your charts,” she hinted, her newest single “What Now” having already arrived mid-October. “You’ll see me quickly. It’s a whole album, and it’s one thing I’ve produced and created to be an emotional, but additionally bodily visceral expertise. This album is nearer to my pores and skin than I’ve ever been. It comes out very quickly, in reality you’ll discover out so quickly when it comes out.”

Peter Frampton instructed Billboard that he “couldn’t be happier” to be in attendance on the 2023 ceremony, shortly after shredding guitar alongside Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks for an electrical efficiency of “On a regular basis Is a Winding Highway.” “She stated it was a favor, however I’d’ve run right here when Sheryl requested me to play,” the rock star stated. ‘I’ve been an enormous fan for therefore lengthy, then I came upon about 10 years in the past that I used to be her first live performance, in order that’s why she wished to have me right here tonight.”

“I’m right here due to Sheryl. It’s an exquisite present she gave me,” Frampton added. “She deserves the whole lot she will get, each award she will get. She’s a really gifted and selfless particular person. She’s all the time serving to different individuals. You recognize, you can by no means name her diva, she’s only a pretty particular person.”

Andrew Ridgeley was on the ceremony to induct his late Wham! bandmate George Michael into the Corridor of Fame, marking one of many evening’s most bittersweet moments. “It was an honor, and one thing I felt a private obligation to do — an obligation to my nice good friend,” the guitarist instructed Billboard afterward. “I’d’ve been barely put out if it had been another person, to be sincere.”

“I feel he would’ve been actually flattered,” added Ridgeley, in response to what Michael would have thought in regards to the evening’s honors. “He took this stuff severely. He took the accolades and the respect of his friends severely. That meant so much to him.”

After taking the stage collectively in celebration of Chaka Khan‘s long-awaited induction, the Rufus vocalist and Sia took on the press room facet by facet. The 2 girls didn’t reply questions, though Sia did belt out just a few bars of her hit “Chandelier” for the small gathering of photographers and journalists — and sure, her voice is simply as highly effective in actual life because it appears in recordings.

New Version appeared dapper in matching velvet tuxes as they handed via the Rock Corridor press room, shortly earlier than taking the stage to carry out in honor of The Spinners. “This was our dream, and this dream has come true tonight,” Michael Bivens stated on behalf of his bandmates. “It’s gong to be one of many greatest performances of our profession, and we’re simply joyful to be sharing it with you.”