CLEVELAND, Ohio -- In what could only be viewed as a jaw-dropping announcement, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Greg Harris used a routine press conference Wednesday to announce that Miley Cyrus will be the artist who presents Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for induction into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 18.

Harris noted that the two have a history together, having performed several of Jett's songs together on "The Oprah Winfrey Show.''

"It was interesting to learn that they are mutual admirers,'' Harris told a press contingent at the Rock Hall who had gathered to hear details of the week leading up to Saturday's induction ceremony at Public Hall from Harris as well as from state Sen. Tom Patton, Destination Cleveland President David Gilbert and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson.

"They're great friends and admirers,'' he said, in noting that Nirvana's Dave Grohl and Dayton native Tommy James -- of Tommy James and Shondells -- plan to perform as part of the group welcoming Jett and her band into the Rock Hall.

A source close to Jett confirmed that the two are very close.

"She and Miley are close,'' said the source, who asked not to be named. "They did Oprah togehter years ago. You can take a look at that footage, but there is a huge fondness there for each other.

"I know she's very happy with the choice,'' the source said.

Also to be inducted are the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Green Day, Lou Reed Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Bill Withers, Ringo Starr and the"5'' Royales.

Harris also used the occasion to reveal that country star Zac Brown, who has made serious inroads into the rock 'n' roll side of things, including a rock-heavy extended play album produced by Grohl called "the Grohl Sessions: Vol. 1,'' will be among the performers.

Miley Cyrus, pictured during a 2014 performance, has been chosen by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to present Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for induction in ceremonies in Cleveland on Saturday, April 18.

While Cyrus' inclusion is a surprise, Brown's is less of one. The Zac Brown Band's next album, "Jekyll + Hyde,'' due out on April 28, goes further into the rock side of things with a cut featuring Soundgarden's Chris Cornell called "Heavy on the Head.''

Brown will join Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello and others in performing the music of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.

Morello currently is touring as a member of Hall of Famers Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, so a performance that includes the Boss and his pals probably isn't out of the question.

Harris also confirmed that Vaughan's older brother, Jimmie -- a guitarist best known for his tenure with the Fabulous Thunderbirds -- also will attend the ceremony and will "hand-deliver'' Stevie Ray's much-worn butterscotch-yellow Fender Stratocaster for inclusion in the museum's exhibit honoring the Class of 2015.

Much of the press conference was devoted to the Rock Hall offering appreciation to its sponsors, like Klipsch Audio, and speeches by Patton, Gilbert and Jackson noting the importance of the Rock Hall, both as a member of the community and as an institution that draws visitors to the city.

Harris pointed out that the museum, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary and just welcomed its 10 millionth visitor, has brought an estimated $2 billion into the local economy since opening its doors in September 1995.

Harris also confirmed that the every-third-year cycle of hosting the induction ceremony here -- it rotates between Los Angeles, New York City and Cleveland -- will remain intact. Part of the reason is something both Jackson and Patton touched on -- the gift of $500,000 each to the Rock Hall to help stage the event. The money is recouped in hotel taxes and tourist dollars.

The ceremonies in Cleveland also will remain at venerable Public Hall, which has undergone several improvements that began with the effort for the first ceremonies here in 2009. Harris noted that Starr will be inducted on the very stage where he and the Beatles played their first Cleveland concert. The "5'' Royales also played on that stage.

The Rock Hall's run-up to the inductions includes a free Celebration Day this Saturday, plus a sold-out gospel concert at Playhouse Square on Sunday that honors singer and pastor Andrae Crouch, as well as events at venues like Beachland Ballroom, the Music Box Supper Club, the Happy Dog and the Rock Hall itself.

Harris also said that HBO, which will film the induction ceremony, will debut its edited version on Saturday, May 30.

With all that, it was the selection of Cyrus to induct rocker Jett that was the talk of social media. Cyrus, now known more for her tongue-wagging twerking with Robin Thicke at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards and forays into near nudity than she ever was as Disney's sweet Hannah Montana, clearly was not the favorite of the Facebook set.

Comments ranged from "Please tell me this is an April Fools joke a week late'' to "A sure sign of the Apocalypse'' to "poor Joan.'' The closest anyone came to endorsing the choice was an acknowledgement that rock 'n' roll is all about shocking people, and this was about as shocking as it gets.