Alanis Morissette and Taylor Swift onstage in 2015 during Taylor Swift The 1989 World Tour
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The votes are in. Taylor Swift, Alanis Morissette, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of KISS, and Kenny Loggins are among the songwriters who will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization’s 2026 Induction and Awards Gala.
Nonperforming writers Walter Afanasieff, Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart are also joining this year’s class, which will be celebrated on June 11 at a gala in New York.
Swift is a first-year ballot inductee. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song; her debut single, “Tim McGraw,” was released in June 2006. At 36, she’s also the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the SHOF. Swift received the organization’s Hal David Starlight Award, which honors a songwriter who shows promise, in 2010, and this year she becomes the first Hal David designee to graduate to full membership status.
Stanley and Simmons’ inductions continue a banner year for two of the founding members of KISS. They were on hand, alongside band mate Peter Criss, in December to receive the Kennedy Center Honor in a tribute that included performances by Garth Brooks and Cheap Trick, honoring them for bangers including “Rock and Roll All Nite” and “Calling Dr. Love.” The announcement of their induction comes three months after the death of Ace Frehley, founding KISS guitarist.
Morissette is being feted for songs including “You Oughta Know,” “Ironic” and “Hand in My Pocket,” all of which helped her win album of the year at the 1996 Grammys for her iconic Jagged Little Pill, which was adapted in 2019 into a Tony- and Grammy-winning Broadway musical of the same name.
Loggins’ diverse songbook includes “Danny’s Song,” “Footloose,” “Return to Pooh Corner” and “What A Fool Believes,” a smash for The Doobie Brothers, who became SHOF inductees in 2025.
Among hits, Afanasieff co-wrote with Mariah Carey the iconic “All I Want For Christmas Is You” as well as her hits “My All” and “Hero.” Carey, who joined the SHOF class of 2022, is being honored as the Person of the Year during the MusiCares gala January 30 in Los Angeles during Grammy weekend.
Britten and Lyle are the dynamic duo behind Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” among other hits. Turner was inducted into the SHOF in 2021, alongside her second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction as a solo artist.
Rihanna’s global sensation “Umbrella,” and Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and “Break My Soul” are among Stewart’s contributions. Beyonce has not yet been on the SHOF ballot though her husband and frequent collaborator Jay-Z was inducted in 2017.
“The music industry is built upon the incredible talent of songwriters who create unforgettable songs. Without their artistry, there would be no recorded music, concert experiences, or engaged fans. Everything originates from the song and its creator,” said SHOF chairman Nile Rodgers.
“We take great pride in our ongoing commitment to recognizing some of the most culturally significant composers in history. This year’s lineup not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres.”
Among songwriters on the ballot who didn’t make the cut this year are David Byrne, LL Cool J, Pink, Sarah McLachlan, and Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s.