A nominee list that crosses genres and generations
The Songwriters Hall of Fame has released the names in contention for its 2027 class, and the roster moves freely across eras and styles. Lady Gaga, Shakira, P!NK, Sia and Jack White sit alongside Boy George, Blondie's Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, Vince Gill and Grandmaster Melle Mel. The organization also recognized writers whose work has largely been heard through other artists, among them Stargate, Stock Aitken Waterman, Pete Bellotte and the team of Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein and Richard Gottehrer.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
The performing-songwriter category mixes stadium pop with rock, country and the earliest years of hip-hop. America's Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell appear, as do ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons with the late Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, and the surviving and deceased members of WAR. Ne-Yo, Kandi Burruss, Dan Wilson, Tom Douglas, Bob McDill, Maurice Starr, Toni Wine and will.i.am fill out a field that stretches from Brill Building-era pop to contemporary chart writing.[S1]
How the induction process works
Under the Hall's rules, a writer becomes eligible for induction two decades after the first commercial release of a song in their catalog. Eligible voting members must submit ballots by midnight Eastern time on December 14, 2026, and each voter may select as many as three names in both the songwriter and performing-songwriter categories. The nominees were announced together with a sampling of the best-known titles each has written.[S1]
The catalogs behind the names
The accompanying song lists show how often these writers shaped hits recorded by others. Stargate's Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen are credited on Irreplaceable, Diamonds, Firework, So Sick and Take A Bow, while Ne-Yo's entry repeats several of the same titles. Stock Aitken Waterman's Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman are represented by Never Gonna Give You Up and I Should Be So Lucky, and Bellotte's credits include Hot Stuff, I Feel Love and Love To Love You Baby.[S1]
Among the performers, Lady Gaga's listed songs run from Poker Face and Bad Romance to Shallow and Die With A Smile. Shakira's include Hips Don't Lie, Whenever, Wherever and La Tortura; Boy George's take in Karma Chameleon and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me; and Jack White's span Fell in Love With a Girl, Seven Nation Army and Steady As She Goes. Blondie's entry lists Call Me, Heart of Glass, Rapture and One Way or Another.[S1]
