Taylor Swift may be headed for a Songwriters Hall of Fame record. Swift, who received the Hal David Starlight Awards from the SHOF in 2010, is nominated for full membership in the organization. She would be the first person to graduate from the Starlight Award (which dates to 2004) to full membership status.
A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song. Swift’s first single, “Tim McGraw,” was released in June 2006. The SHOF gala is typically held in June, so she just makes it.
The list of nominees also includes three people who have won Grammys for song of the year – Terry Britten and Graham Lyle (“What’s Love Got to Do With It”) and Kenny Loggins (“What a Fool Believes,” a cowrite with Michael McDonald).
The list includes several songwriters who have often collaborated with people who are already in the Hall: Walter Afanasieff (best known for his collaboration with 2022 inductee Mariah Carey); Andreas Carlsson (who cowrote Backstreet Boys’ megahit “I Want It That Way” with 2017 inductee Max Martin); Tom Snow (who has often collaborated with 2024 inductee Dean Pitchford); and Richard Carpenter (who cowrote many Carpenters hits with 2011 inductee John Bettis).
Several of the nominees have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: LL Cool J (who received a 2021 award for musical excellence from the Rock Hall); David Byrne (whose band Talking Heads was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2002); Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane M. Wiedlin (of Go-Go’s, who were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2021) and Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley (of KISS, who were inducted into the Rock Hall in 2014).
Other members of prominent groups, not already mentioned, on this year’s ballot include Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings (The Guess Who); Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (America); and Harry Wayne Casey (KC and the Sunshine Band).
News of Simmons and Stanley’s inclusion comes days after the death of Ace Frehley, KISS’ original lead guitarist and founding member. Frehley, 74, died Oct. 16 in New Jersey.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating the popular music. The 2026 inductees will be announced in early 2026. The Induction & Awards Gala is typically held in New York City in June.
Eligible voting members will have until midnight ET on Dec. 4 to turn in ballots, with their choices of up to three nominees in each of the songwriter and performing songwriter categories.
The 2025 class consisted of George Clinton; Ashley Gorley; Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; Mike Love; Tony Macaulay; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers and the late Bert Berns.
Here’s the full list of 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame nominees. The songs listed as examples of the songwriter’s work were supplied by the SHOF.
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 LeVasseur 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 (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 (The Guess Who) – These Eyes * Laughing * No Time * American Woman * No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature
Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley (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 (The Go-Go’s) – We Got The Beat * Our Lips Are Sealed * Vacation * Head Over Heels * This Town
