And the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees Are...

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will welcome Tom Waits, Neil Diamond, Darlene Love and the Alice Cooper Band as its 2011 batch of inductees.

Diamond had been eligible for the honor for several years but never received a nomination to join music's prestigious club. But he was never really worried about it.

"I thought about it occasionally, but I kind of figured they'd get around to me at some point," he told the AP in a phone interview.

That point came on Tuesday, as the 2011 class for the Cleveland hall was revealed. Diamond, whose hits include 'Sweet Caroline,' finally made the list.
Piano man Leon Russell was honored with a musical excellence award, previously the sideman category. Executives Jac Holzman and Art Rupe were given the Ahmet Ertegun Awards.

It took three tries before Love, best known for hits such as '(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry' and her work with producer Phil Spector and the Blossoms, was approved for the hall. When reached on Tuesday, an enthusiastic Love said: "I can actually breathe."

"Finally it's done," she added. "It still hasn't hit me yet. I still have that nervous stomach, and I'm still excited."

The excitement will have to wait for some: Bon Jovi, nominated for the first time, was turned away from the hall, as was LL Cool J, the J. Geils Band, the Beastie Boys, Donna Summer and more.