Eminem, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, N.W.A. and Janet Jackson get Songwriters Hall of Fame nods
If Janet Jackson is inducted, she would follow her late brother Michael into the Hall more than 20 years later.
Eminem, Boy George, George Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Janet Jackson, The Doobie Brothers, N.W.A., and Alanis Morissette are among the diverse mix of nominees for the 2025 class of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. This year's lineup spans genres from rap and rock to hip-hop and pop.
Other notable contenders include Bryan Adams, known for hits like “Summer of ’69” and “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?”, and Mike Love of The Beach Boys, who is seeking recognition 25 years after bandmate Brian Wilson. David Gates, the co-lead singer of the pop band Bread, is also vying for induction.
The Hall of Fame annually honors both performers and non-performers. This year’s non-performer category highlights figures like Walter Afanasieff, known for co-writing Mariah Carey’s timeless “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; Mike Chapman, who co-wrote Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield”; and Narada Michael Walden, responsible for Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” and Aretha Franklin’s “Freeway of Love.”
Voting members have until December 22 to submit their ballots, selecting three nominees from the songwriter category and three from the performing-songwriter category. The Associated Press obtained an advance copy of this year's ballot.
Several previous nominees are back on the list, including George Clinton, whose Parliament-Funkadelic project brought hits like “Atomic Dog” and “Give Up the Funk,” and The Doobie Brothers’ members Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and Michael McDonald, known for songs such as “Listen to the Music” and “Long Train Runnin’.” Steve Winwood, recognized for “Higher Love” and “Roll With It,” also returns for another chance.
Representing hip-hop are Eminem, with tracks like “Lose Yourself” and “Stan,” and N.W.A. members Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. Previous inductees in the genre include Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Missy Elliott. Tommy James, known for classics like “Mony Mony” and “Crimson and Clover,” has also secured a nomination.
If Janet Jackson is inducted, she would follow her late brother Michael into the Hall more than 20 years later. Alanis Morissette, whose groundbreaking album Jagged Little Pill has won multiple awards, could join the ranks of influential female songwriters in the Hall, alongside her collaborator Glen Ballard, who is already a member.
Sheryl Crow, enjoying renewed acclaim after her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2023, is recognized for hits like “All I Wanna Do” and “Everyday Is a Winding Road.” Meanwhile, Boy George brings the spirit of ’80s New Wave with Culture Club classics such as “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.”
Other non-performing nominees include Franne Golde, who co-wrote Selena’s “Dreaming of You”; Tom Douglas, who has penned country hits for Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, and Miranda Lambert; and Ashley Gorley, who co-wrote “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen. Roger Nichols, who co-authored The Carpenters’ “We’ve Only Just Begun,” is also among the nominees.
This year's list also features Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, known for Brandy and Monica’s hit “The Boy Is Mine”; Sonny Curtis, the former Crickets member behind “Love Is All Around” for The Mary Tyler Moore Show; and Tony Macaulay, writer of “Build Me Up Buttercup.”
Additionally, three songwriting duos are in the running: Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan, creators of “Secret Agent Man”; Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter, who wrote the Four Tops’ “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”; and Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham, known for Percy Sledge’s “Out of Left Field.”
Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates those who have shaped popular music. Eligible songwriters must have a significant catalog, with at least 20 years since their first commercial release.
The Hall already includes legendary figures like Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Neil Diamond. Last year, inductees included R.E.M., Steely Dan, Dean Pitchford, Hillary Lindsey, and Timbaland.
