The two-hour virtual induction will premiere on HBO and HBO Max on Saturday
Years after their deaths, Whitney Houston and Notorious B.I.G. will be inducted into the 2020 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
With coronavirus cases continuing to surge throughout the U.S., the Rock Hall’s annual live induction ceremony will be replaced with a virtual celebration. Premiering on HBO and HBO Max on Saturday (8 p.m. EST/PST), the two-hour special will lack an audience cheering on electrifying performances, but the virtual format will feature appearances by a number of A-listers who taped salutes to this year’s class.
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In moving tributes, Alicia Keys described her beautiful friendship with Houston and called the Grammy-winning singer “the greatest voice of all time.”
Houston’s mother, Cissy Houston, 87, gave a speech on her daughter’s behalf. “I’m so very, very proud that Whitney is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She wanted to be something — not anything. She worked hard at it too,” she said.
“I’m proud of who she was,” Cissy added. “What can I say now? If I talk too long, I’ll cry. I don’t want to cry.”
Brooklyn rapper and hip-hop trailblazer, Notorious B.I.G.’s two adult children — Tyanna, 27 and C.J., 24 accepted the award for their late father.
“When my dad passed away, I was only three years old,” Tyanna said. “Even though I didn’t get to know him as well as I wanted, through his fans and our family I was able to see through my own eyes that his music transcended the hip-hop industry. He was able to become not only the ‘King of New York,’ but the king of the culture.”
Biggie’s friend and collaborator, Sean “Diddy” Combs gave a tribute to the late rapper. “They say time heals all wounds. I kind of wait for that day,” said Combs. “But I also think time doesn’t heal all wounds. Some you have to live with.”
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Whitney Houston died in 2012 at age 48 from accidental drowning associated with heart disease and cocaine use and Christopher Wallace aka Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed in 1997 at age 24.
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