The Folk American Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) will induct its second class of honorees on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. The ceremony will take place at the Boch Center Wang Theatre and include dinner and a night of tributes and performances celebrating the evening’s honorees.
The following is the list of the Class of 2025 inductees by category.
Legacy Artists
A legacy artist is a performer whose initial impact on the genre was at least 45 years prior to the year of Induction. This year’s legacy artists are:
Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul herself. She was a powerhouse vocalist whose career began in gospel and expanded into R&B, pop, and soul. Aretha became a cultural icon and the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Leonard Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter known for deeply introspective songs such as “Suzanne” and “Hallelujah.” A literary and musical icon, his work bridged folk, rock, and spiritual reflection, influencing generations of songwriters.
Mississippi John Hurt was a country blues singer and guitarist known for his gentle fingerpicking and kind demeanor. His recordings became foundational for generations of acoustic blues and folk musicians.
Muddy Waters was a Chicago blues giant who electrified Delta blues, inspired the British Invasion, and became a towering influence on rock and modern blues.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe, known as the “Godmother of Rock and Roll,” she was a gospel singer and guitarist whose electric guitar work laid the groundwork for the genre and inspired generations with her trailblazing fusion of gospel and rhythm.
Living Artists
A living artist is a contemporary performer whose initial impact on the genre was at least 25 years prior to the year of Induction. This year’s living artists are:
Jackson Browne emerged from the Southern California folk-rock scene to become a voice of his generation. The singer-songwriter is known for his introspective lyrics and deeply humanistic perspective on life and politics.
Judy Collins helped define the 1960s folk revival with her crystalline soprano voice and interpretations of songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. She has remained an enduring and elegant presence in folk music for more than six decades.
Neil Young has anchored his work in folk and protest traditions. He has a vast catalog that spans acoustic introspection and electric fury and remains a vital voice in social commentary and musical exploration.
Tom Paxton is one of the foundational figures of the 1960s Greenwich Village folk scene. He is known for classics like “The Last Thing on My Mind.” His songs combine humor, protest, and sentiment in a body of work that spans over 60 years.
Tom Rush lent his warm voice and storytelling style to help popularize emerging artists like Joni Mitchell and James Taylor in the 1960s. His influence extends deeply into the singer-songwriter tradition.
Industry/Non-Performers
The Non-Performers category honors those whose creative or technical contributions shaped the sound and legacy of American music. They are:
Alan Lomax traveled the U.S. and the world to document traditional music. His archive of recordings preserved the voices of countless folk, blues, gospel, and world artists.
John Hammond, a legendary record producer and talent scout, was instrumental in launching the careers of Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Pete Seeger, Aretha Franklin, and Bruce Springsteen — bridging folk, blues, and jazz with social conscience.
FARHOF was launched in 2019 as an initiative of Boston’s Boch Center. Its purpose is to “celebrate the lifeblood of America’s musical and cultural heritage.”
This Class of 2025 inductees is composed of some of the most notable names in folk, Americana, and roots music history. Collectively, they’ve earned more than 30 Grammy Awards and countless other honors, cementing their legacy in music history.
For more information about the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame and its inductees past and present, head here.
