Bon Jovi, Nina Simone and The Cars lead 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees

Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Bon Jovi, Nina Simone and The Cars are among the premier acts named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class of 2018.

Dire Straits and The Moody Blues will also be inducted into the Cleveland, Ohio-based hall -- along with Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who will be honored with the Early Influence award. The music acts will be recognized April 14 at the 33rd annual induction ceremony at Cleveland's Public Auditorium. HBO will broadcast the event at a later date.

More than 900 artists, historians and music industry insiders who make up the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voting body chose this year's inductees.

A public vote also took place, adding single votes to the overall totals of the top five nominees. Only Judas Priest missed the final cut despite its place among the top five in the public vote, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The other nominees announced in October included Rage Against The Machine, Depeche Mode, Kate Bush, Eurythmics, J. Geils Band, LL Cool J, MC5, the Meters, Rufus featuring Chaka Khan Link Wray and the Zombies.

"It's a Christmas miracle," Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan told Rolling Stone. "[We were] guys living the dream, getting on a bus with no guarantees in any way shape or form or anything. It was, 'Let's go out and make this happen.' And we actually did."

"On Friday [the day before I heard the news], I couldn't have cared less," Moody Blues singer Justin Hayward said. "On Saturday, I was thinking, 'Wow, that's amazing!' I'm extremely grateful to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for two things: For creating the supreme temple to something that has brought me endless joy since I was a little boy. The second thing is for, after all these years, including us."

The induction ceremony offers a unique opportunity for bands and bandmates to reunite and perform onstage together again. Simone, who died in 2003, and Tharpe, who died in 1973, will likely have artists they helped inspire perform their music.

Journey, Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur, Electric Light Orchestra, Yes and Joan Baez and Nile Rodgers were inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2017.