The reclusive Kate Bush will not be in attendance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Bush, who hasn’t toured since 1979, is set for induction along with Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, and the Spinners. The show will air live and on-demand on Disney+ starting at 5 PM Pacific time/8 PM Eastern. Audio can be streamed live through Apple Music 1.
In a post to her website, Bush indicated she was honored to be inducted, but gave no reason for her absence. There has long been speculation that she doesn’t like to fly and is mildly agoraphobic.
Last year saw something of a career renaissance for Bush, whose 1985 song Running Up That Hill was revived by its use in the Netflix hit Stranger Things. It now has 228 million YouTube views.
“I am completely blown away by this huge honour – an award that sits in the big beating heart of the American music industry,” she wrote on her website. “Thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. I never imagined I would be given this wonderful accolade.
“Last year was such a surprisingly successful time for my track Running Up That Hill and
I’m sure that a lot of you who’ve voted me in to the RRHOF also drove that track up the charts. Thank you! I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend the ceremony tonight, but for me the real honour is knowing that you felt I deserved it.
“The RRHOF has welcomed me into the most extraordinary rostrum of overwhelming talent.
“When I was growing up my hero was Elton John. I poured over his music, longed to be able to play piano like him and longed to write songs that could move people in the way his work moved me.
“That little girl in South East London could never have dreamed she’d be sharing the event tonight with Bernie Taupin, Elton’s writing partner, an incredible lyricist who inspired me to keep writing songs – to keep trying. Congratulations Bernie! Congratulations to everyone who is being inducted tonight!
“Music is at the core of who I am and, like all musicians, being on the journey of trying to create something musically interesting is rife with feelings of doubt and insecurity.
“I’m only five foot three, but today I feel a little taller.”
She signed off simply as “Kate.”