Taylor Swift, LL Cool J, Kenny Loggins, Pink, Sarah McLachlan and Talking Heads’ David Byrne are among the nominees for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class, a list that also includes Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of the Guess Who, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America and Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss.
In the performer-songwriter category are Richard Carpenter of the Carpenters (“Top Of The World,” “Yesterday Once More” and “Goodbye To Love”), Harry Wayne Casey, aka KC of KC and the Sunshine Band (five Hot 100 No. 1 singles, including “Rock Your Baby,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “(Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty”) and singer-guitarist Boz Scaggs.
The non-performing songwriter category includes disco titan Pete Bellotte (known for his work with Donna Summer on “Hot Stuff,” “I Feel Love” and “Love To Love You Baby”), Swedish pop producer Andreas Carlsson (Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye,” Katy Perry’s “Waking Up In Vegas”) and Steve Kipner (Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical,” Christina Aguilera’s “Genie In A Bottle”), along with longtime Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard (“Like A Prayer,” “Live To Tell”), Vini Poncia (several Ringo Starr hits and the Ronettes’ “Do I Love You?,”), Martin Page (Starships’ “We Built This City”), Kenny Nolan (Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade”) and the duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle (Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It”).
The complete list of nominees appears below, followed by a selective list of their most significant songs.
A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Eligible voting members have until midnight Eastern on Dec. 4 to turn in ballots with their choices of up to three nominees from the songwriter category and up to three from the performing-songwriter category.
Established in 1969, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees include Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond, Phil Collins, R.E.M., Steely Dan, Dean Pitchford, Hillary Lindsey and many more.
Songwriters Hall of Fame 2026 nominees
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Non-Performing Songwriters
Walter Afanasieff – All I Want For Christmas Is You * My All * Hero * Love Will Survive * One Sweet Day
Pete Bellotte – Hot Stuff * I Feel Love * Love To Love You Baby * Heaven Knows * Push It To The Limit
Andreas Carlsson – I Want It That Way * Bye Bye Bye * It’s Gonna Be Me * That’s The Way It Is * Waking Up In Vegas
Steve Kipner – Physical * Hard Habit To Break * Genie In A Bottle * These Words * Breakeven
Jeffrey Le Vasseur p/k/a Jeffrey Steele – What Hurts The Most * My Wish * Knee Deep * The Cowboy In Me * I’d Give Anything/She’d Give Anything
Patrick Leonard – Like A Prayer * Live To Tell * Nevermind * You Want It Darker * Yet Another Movie
Terry Britten and Graham Lyle – What’s Love Got To Do With It * We Don’t Need Another Hero * Typical Male * Devil Woman * I Should Have Known Better
Bob McDill – Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold * Good Ole Boys Like Me * Gone Country * Don’t Close Your Eyes * Song Of The South
Kenny Nolan – Lady Marmalade * My Eyes Adored You * I Like Dreamin’ * Masterpiece * Get Dancin’
Martin Page – We Built This City * These Dreams * King Of Wishful Thinking * Faithful * Fallen Angel
Vini Poncia – Do I Love You * I Was Made For Lovin You * Oh My My * You Make Me Feel Like Dancing * Just Too Many People
Tom Snow – He’s So Shy * Let’s Hear it for the Boy * Dreaming of You * Don’t Know Much * After All
Christopher “Tricky” Stewart – Umbrella * Single Ladies * Obsessed * Just Fine * Break My Soul
Larry Weiss – Rhinestone Cowboy * Bend Me Shape Me * Hi Ho Silver Lining * Your Baby Doesn’t Love You Anymore * Darling Take Me Back
Performing Songwriters
Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America – A Horse with No Name * Ventura Highway * Sister Golden Hair * I Need You* Tin Man
David Byrne – Once In A Lifetime * Psycho Killer * Burning Down The House * Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place) * Strange Overtones
Richard Carpenter – Goodbye To Love * Top Of The World * Yesterday Once More * Only Yesterday * Merry Christmas Darling
Harry Wayne Casey – Rock Your Baby * Get Down Tonight * That’s The Way (I Like It) * (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty * Please Don’t Go
Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of The Guess Who – These Eyes * Laughing * No Time * American Woman * No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS – Rock and Roll All Nite * I Love It Loud * Calling Dr. Love * Shout It Out Loud * Christine 16
Kenny Loggins – Danny’s Song * Footloose * Celebrate Me Home * Return to Pooh Corner * What A Fool Believes
Sarah McLachlan – Angel * Sweet Surrender * I Will Remember You * Building A Mystery * Adia
Alecia B. Moore p/k/a P!nk – Glitter in the Air * Just Like A Pill * Raise Your Glass * So What * What About Us
Boz Scaggs – Lido Shuffle * Lowdown * We’re All Alone * Thanks To You * Look What You’ve Done To Me
James Todd Smith p/k/a LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out * I Need Love * Around The Way Girl * Going Back To Cali * Illegal Search
Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) * Blank Space * Anti-Hero * Love Story * The Last Great American Dynasty
Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane M. Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s – We Got The Beat * Our Lips Are Sealed * Vacation * Head Over Heels * This Town
From Variety US