Cher's Rock Hall reversal: From refusal to acceptance

After expressing strong discontent about being excluded from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in December, Cher has since altered her stance following her nomination this year. Vulture cleverly referred to it as her "Uno Reverse Card," and it's not entirely unlike people saying they'll flee the country if so-and-so wins an election, yet they never do.

During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show late last year, the legendary singer shared her frustration, declaring she would never join the Hall of Fame if offered. "I wouldn’t be in it now if they gave me a million dollars," she said semi-boldly. "I’m never going to change my mind. They can just go you-know-what themselves."

However, as they say, "Never say never." With her recent nomination for this year's class, which includes notable names like Foreigner, Mary J. Blige, Peter Frampton, and Ozzy Osbourne, Cher has had a convenient change of heart regarding the induction ceremony this fall. She expressed her gratitude, saying, "I can thank David Geffen, my friend and most wonderful person ever, and John Sykes," in a conversation with Entertainment Tonight. “I’m going to have some words to say. I’m going to accept it as me.” How brave!

Why did Cher change her mind? Convenience

Cher's complaints were no doubt a cry for attention from the Rock Hall, more than anything else. Actually, as others have noted, Cher’s initial reluctance mirrors the experiences of other artists. Dolly Parton, for instance, was inducted in the 2022 class and initially declined the nomination.

"Even though I am extremely flattered to be nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I don’t feel that I have earned that right," Parton stated at first. "I really do not want the votes split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out. I do hope that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will understand and be willing to consider me again — if I’m ever worthy."

Eventually, Parton “graciously” accepted her nomination, especially when it was paired with the release of a more rock-oriented album (albeit more soft rock, but rock nonetheless). That was really such a Dolly Parton thing to do, right? Meanwhile, we have to wait and see what Cher will do when she's at the Rock Hall event.

Though we have an idea of what Cher might say during the ceremony itself, one can only speculate on what she meant by "I'm going to have some words to say." Personally, I encourage her to take the stage, dressed appropriately, to say, "Hi, Billy Mays here for ..." Then again, that would be me, and I am absolutely not Cher.