Taylor Swift Is Nominated for Induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Why It Took Until Now

Taylor Swift has been nominated for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame.

On Thursday, Oct. 23, Swift, 35, was announced on the ballot alongside LL Cool J, David Byrne, Sarah McLachlan, Kenny Loggins, P!nk, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of KISS, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go's, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of the Guess Who and Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America.

Swift has earned her first nomination because, per an official press release, "a songwriter with a catalog of notable songs qualifies for induction 20 years after their first commercial release of a song."

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Each year, the Songwriters Hall of Fame inducts both non-performers and performers alike. The former's category features Donna Summer collaborator Pete Bellotte, Backstreet Boys and Katy Perry collaborator Andreas Carlsson and Christina Aguilera and Olivia Newton-John collaborator Steve Kipner.

Also featured in this category is longtime Madonna collaborator Patrick Leonard, as well as Vini Poncia (The Ronettes’ “Do I Love You?,”), Kenny Nolan (Labelle’s “Lady Marmalade”), Martin Page (Starships’ “We Built This City”) and the duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle (Tina Turner’s “What’s Love Got To Do With It.”)

The performer-songwriter category features The Carpenters' Richard Carpenter, KC and the Sunshine Band's Harry Wayne Casey and Boz Scaggs.

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Voting members have until 12 a.m. EST on Dec. 4 to turn in ballots with their choices of up to three nominees from the non-performing songwriter category and up to three from the performing-songwriter category.

The 2026 Induction & Awards Gala will take place in New York City.

See the full list of nominees below.

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 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