This year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was a roller coaster ride of emotions, surprise appearances, heartwarming speeches and, of course, good music. Plus, both the class of 2023 inductees and the night’s performers were more diverse than ever, thanks to the Hall’s ongoing efforts to recognize a broader range of genres as well as the women and people of color who have permanently changed the landscape of music for the better (in spite of what exiled co-founder Jann Wenner may have said earlier this year, something that made for a sizzling diss in Bernie Taupin’s acceptance speech).

And whether it was from the audience or behind the scenes, Billboard was there at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday night (Nov. 3) to capture it all. The evening’s inductees included Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Chaka Khan, and Bernie Taupin, while the performers list spanned Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Elton John, H.E.R., Ice-T, LL Cool J, Miguel, New Edition, Olivia Rodrigo, Queen Latifah, Sia, Stevie Nicks and St. Vincent — several of whom stopped backstage to answer one-on-one questions from Billboard, address the press room as a whole or simply take photos.

For the first time ever, the ceremony was live-streamed, meaning fans everywhere could tune in via Disney+ to watch in real time. But to find out what cameras didn’t catch, keep reading below to see what you missed backstage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, including exclusive Billboard interviews with Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood and more: