Bernie Taupin Inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Condemns Jann Wenner's Comments on Female and Black Artists

After receiving the Musical Excellence Award, Taupin publicly criticizes former Rock Hall co-founder Jann Wenner during his acceptance speech, making him the only inductee to openly address Wenner's controversial comments against female and Black artists.

Bernie Taupin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Musical Excellence Award, acknowledging his significant impact on music throughout his five-decade-long songwriting partnership with Elton John.
During his acceptance speech, Taupin condemned former Rock Hall co-founder Jann Wenner's recent comments about female and Black musicians. Taupin's criticism made him the only inductee to publicly address Wenner's controversial statements.
In September, Wenner had stated that female musicians were not 'articulate enough on this intellectual level,' and that Black artists 'just didn’t articulate at that level,' comments that led to his removal from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation's board of directors.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin recently completed a new album in Los Angeles. Following Taupin's speech, John performed 'Tiny Dancer', a classic penned by Taupin in 1971 as a tribute to his first wife and women he met on John's first American tour.
Taupin joins the class of 2023 inductees alongside other music icons such as Kate Bush, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Sheryl Crow, the Spinners, and George Michael. Other Musical Excellence Award winners include Chaka Khan and Al Kooper.