Taylor Swift becomes the youngest woman inducted into the Songwriters
Hall of Fame at age 36
[June 12, 2026]
By MARIA SHERMAN
NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift became the youngest woman ever inducted
into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night at age 36.
"It was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it," she said of
songwriting through a raspy voice she attributed to screaming along to
the night's performances and Wednesday night's historic NBA game between
the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
She told the room about her family uprooting their lives to move her
from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee, as a tween.
“I will never be able to express my gratitude,” the singer-songwriter
said while holding back tears — crediting their sacrifice for her
career.
She offered young songwriters advice: “You really have to prioritize
what you love, down to your very core. Because you'll need that."
Steven Spielberg introduced Swift with a surprise speech about the power
of songwriting. “There is something undeniable about how songs imprint
on our souls,” he said, before changing his focus to Swift. “Somehow
Taylor knows us all too well.”
Swift started her speech by acknowledging Spielberg. “Because of
examples like Steven's, I trusted my imagination," she said.
The Gen Z singer Sombr launched Swift's segment by performing “Cardigan”
and “Dear John" in front of her.
Swift has brought new eyes to this year’s ceremony and undeniably shaped
contemporary pop music trends with her songwriting. Swift is the
youngest woman inducted, but Stevie Wonder, who started his recording
career at 13, was the youngest ever inducted, it was announced on stage.
It was a notable moment in an evening full of them, where Swift, Kiss’
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, Alanis
Morissette, Kenny Loggins and more were honored.
A night of celebrating songwriters
Tamar Braxton opened the gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York
City with a spirted tribute to a new inductee — the game-changing R&B
songwriter, producer and rapper Christopher “Tricky” Stewart — with one
of the biggest songs he's known for: Beyoncé's “Single Ladies.”
He's also responsible for singer-songwriter Rihanna’s “Umbrella,” Mariah
Carey's “Touch My Body” and Justin Bieber's “Baby.”
Dallas Austin, a songwriter and producer known for work with Boyz ll Men
and Madonna, introduced Stewart. “Think about that catalog,” he said,
listing off those zeitgeist-shifting records. “Those are cultural
moments."
Stewart thanked God, his family, artists he's worked with and mentors —
giving a special shout out to Grammy award-winning music producer
Antonio “L.A.” Reid and the iconic singer-songwriter Babyface. “I wanted
to be like L.A. and Baby,” he reflected.
Kiss founders Simmons and Stanley — two and a half years after the
band’s farewell — were also recognized for their glam rock classics
“Rock and Roll All Nite” and “I Love It Loud.” The Smashing Pumpkins’
Billy Corgan covered the former, a fittingly fiery introduction for the
band. He was joined by Goo Goo Dolls’ frontman John Rzeznik for the
latter.
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Tamar Braxton performs during the 55th annual Songwriters Hall of
Fame Induction and Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on
Thursday, June 11, 2026, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
 Simmons wasn't present; Stanley said
that he had a family emergency.
“Songs are the messenger,” he said — the foundation of “every show.”
Soft rock legend Kenny Loggins (“Footloose,” “Danny’s Song”) and the
alt-rock icon Morissette were also inducted.
For the latter, Brandi Carlile performed “Uninvited” alongside
SistaStrings, before introducing Morissette.
“Writing to me is not a hobby,” Morissette said, it’s critical.
“It’s write or die.” Then she performed “Mary Jane” and "You Oughta
Know" from her 1995 album “Jagged Little Pill.”
For Loggins, Gavin DeGraw performed “Danny’s Song,” before Loggins
told the story behind the tune in his acceptance speech.
Acknowledging writers and their hits
Taylor Dayne and Madison Cunningham performed Tina Turner classics
written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle in honor of their
induction; John Fogerty was honored with the Johnny Mercer Award.
“I got my songs back!” Fogerty said, ending a nearly 30-minute
speech, referencing the fact that he won the rights back to his
catalog at age 80. Then he ran through a medley of his hits: “Proud
Mary,” “Fortunate Son,” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” among
them.
The songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for
Christmas Is You”) was also recognized, a segment that began with an
introduction by actor Jeremy Renner and included a monster medley of
his biggest songs by R&B singer Sheléa, kicking off with his
Christmas classic six months early.
“I wanted to be The Beatles,” he said of falling in love with
songwriting in his speech. “Sixty years later, I got to produce Paul
McCartney.”
An established tradition
British singer-songwriter RAYE received the prestigious Hal David
Starlight Award. She ended her speech by stating that songwriters
deserve a cut of master royalties.
Last year's inductees included George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers,
Ashley Gorley, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love
and Tony Macaulay.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those
creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs
qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release
of a song.
Some already in the hall include Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Paul
Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and
Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom
Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.
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