Sade Adu Earns Second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination

Summary: Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu has earned her second nomination for the 2026 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, joining a shortlist of 17 artists from various genres and generations, with final inductees to be announced in April 2026.

Nigerian-born British singer Sade Adu has been nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the second time, securing a spot on the 2026 shortlist.

A list of 17 artists from different genres and generations was released, featuring both first-time nominees and returning contenders. Sade was previously nominated in 2024 but did not make the final class.

According to the Hall, performers become eligible for nomination 25 years after the release of their first commercial recording, a benchmark used to assess longevity and cultural impact. Final inductees will be selected by a voting body of more than 1,200 artists, historians and music industry professionals, with winners expected to be announced in April 2026 ahead of an induction ceremony later in the year.

Born Helen Folasade Adu in Ibadan, Nigeria, and raised in the United Kingdom, Sade rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lead vocalist of her band, Sade. Blending soul, jazz and R&B, her sound helped define the quiet storm era and offered a softer alternative to the dominant pop trends of the time.

Her debut album, Diamond Life, achieved international success and featured breakout hits such as “Smooth Operator” and “The Sweetest Taboo,” cementing her global appeal.

Over a career spanning four decades, Sade has won four Grammy Awards, becoming the first Nigerian-born artist to win a Grammy in 1986. Though known for maintaining a low public profile and releasing music at measured intervals, her projects have consistently achieved critical and commercial acclaim.