State singer looks to rock hall of fame
Prolonged absence from music museum angered famous fans.
Oklahoma singer Wanda Jackson looks to rock hall of fame

Oklahoma singer Wanda Jackson, widely regarded as the first woman to sing rock 'n' roll, is one step closer to entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

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The Cleveland-based rock hall announced Monday the nominees for its 2009 class. Jackson is on the final ballot.

"I've been there once before, a few years ago, but I think maybe this is the year. Who knows,” Jackson said in a phone interview from her Oklahoma City home.

The other finalists are guitarist Jeff Beck, disco band Chico, doo-wop group Little Anthony and the Imperials, heavy metal band Metallica, hip-hop trailblazers Run-D.M.C., punk pioneers the Stooges, funk group War and soul singer/songwriter/guitarist Bobby Womack.

To be eligible for nomination, this year's hopefuls had to release their first single or album at least 25 years ago, or in 1983.

"For all of this to come about in this point in my life, it's just overwhelming to me,” she said.

"They all were in a rage about the fact that I was the first one (woman) to record rock ‘n' roll ... and they had just totally overlooked me all these years,” she said.

Elvis Costello, who was inducted in 2003, wrote a stinging letter to the rock hall a few years ago, saying that Jackson's absence "risks ridicule and having the appearance of being a little boy's club.”

"He's really been an ambassador for me, he and also Patti (Scialfa) and Bruce Springsteen,” she said.

These stars, along with Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead and Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, appeared in the documentary "Wanda Jackson: The Sweet Lady with the Nasty Voice.” The documentary, which won the Founder's Award at 2007 deadCenter Film Festival, also drew attention to Jackson's absence from the rock hall.

The final ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will choose five of the nine nominees for the 2009 class. The inductees will be announced in January, but Jackson isn't anxiously awaiting the results.

"You can't do anything about it, so I'm just gonna enjoy the trip I guess and hope for the best,” she said.

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