New Edition misses Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction after topping fan vote

New Edition came out on top in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Vote, but they will not be part of this year’s induction class.

The R and B group known for songs like Candy and Can You Stand the Rain led the public poll, collecting over one million votes.

Historically, winning the fan vote has often helped artists secure a place in the Hall, though it is not guaranteed. New Edition now becomes the third act to top the fan ballot without being inducted, and the second year in a row after Phish missed out in 2025.

Speaking with Billboard last year, John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, explained how the fan vote fits into the overall selection process. He shared that the results are always presented to the nominating committee, but they are not treated as more important than other votes.

"It's a great way to have the public weigh in, however, you may have an artist who doesn't have a strong fan club or active group of supporters, and we don't want the fan club being able to lobby their artist into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame," he explained.

Even so, the fan vote still acts as a general indicator of popularity. Previous winners have included Rush, Kiss and Tina Turner.

Last week, Method Man of Wu-Tang Clan sparked conversation about potential issues with the voting process. He suggested that bots may have influenced the results, writing, "Although it's very cool to be nominated for the rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame, what isn't cool are bots getting involved in the voting.

"It's not fair to the nominees or the legit voters. With that being said, congrats to all the nominees and good luck!"

Method Man later removed the post, and Wu-Tang Clan placed eighth in the fan vote. They are still set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year.