Inducting R.E.M. into the hall was Jason Isbell, a fellow Southern songwriting great who praised the band’s unique sound and the impact their music had on him growing up in a small Southern town. Isbell described R.E.M. as a band that moved like a single instrument, creating songs that served a real purpose for listeners like himself.
As a tribute to R.E.M., Isbell recorded covers of their songs “Nightswimming” and “Driver 8” for his album Georgia Blue, which he released after Joe Biden won Georgia in the 2020 presidential election. During a performance in NYC, Isbell also performed a third R.E.M. song, “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).”
Isbell’s tribute to R.E.M. showcases the influence the band had on his own music and career, highlighting their lasting impact on the music industry. Watch the footage of Isbell’s cover and his speech honoring R.E.M. below.