NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Thursday night at age 36.
“It was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it,” she said of songwriting through a raspy voice she attributed to screaming along to the night’s performances and between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs.
She told the room about her family uprooting their lives to move her from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee, as a tween.
鈥淚 will never be able to express my gratitude,鈥� said while holding back tears 鈥� crediting their sacrifice for her career.
She offered young songwriters advice: 鈥淵ou really have to prioritize what you love, down to your very core. Because you’ll need that.”
introduced Swift with a surprise speech about the power of songwriting. 鈥淭here is something undeniable about how songs imprint on our souls,鈥� he said, before changing his focus to Swift. 鈥淪omehow Taylor knows us .鈥�
Swift started her speech by acknowledging Spielberg. 鈥淏ecause of examples like Steven’s, I trusted my imagination,” she said.
launched Swift’s segment by performing 鈥淐ardigan鈥� and 鈥淒ear John” in front of her.
Swift has brought new eyes to this year鈥檚 ceremony and undeniably shaped contemporary pop music trends with her songwriting. Swift is the youngest woman inducted, but Stevie Wonder, who started his recording career at 13, was the youngest ever inducted, it was announced on stage.
It was a notable moment in an evening full of them, where Swift, Kiss鈥� Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Christopher 鈥淭ricky鈥� Stewart, Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins and more were honored.
A night of celebrating songwriters
Tamar Braxton opened the gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City with a spirted tribute to a new inductee 鈥� the game-changing R&B songwriter, producer and rapper Christopher 鈥淭ricky鈥� Stewart 鈥� with one of the biggest songs he’s known for:
He’s also responsible for 鈥淯尘产谤别濒濒补,鈥� 鈥淭ouch My Body鈥� and 鈥淏补产测.鈥�
Dallas Austin, a songwriter and producer known for work with Boyz ll Men and Madonna, introduced Stewart. 鈥淭hink about that catalog,鈥� he said, listing off those zeitgeist-shifting records. 鈥淭hose are cultural moments.”
Stewart thanked God, his family, artists he’s worked with and mentors 鈥� giving a special shout out to Grammy award-winning music producer Antonio 鈥淟.A.鈥� Reid and . 鈥淚 wanted to be like L.A. and Baby,鈥� he reflected.
Kiss founders Simmons and Stanley 鈥� two and a half years after 鈥� were also recognized for their glam rock classics 鈥淩ock and Roll All Nite鈥� and 鈥淚 Love It Loud.鈥� The Smashing Pumpkins鈥� Billy Corgan covered the former, a fittingly fiery introduction for the band. He was joined by Goo Goo Dolls鈥� frontman John Rzeznik for the latter.
Simmons wasn’t present; Stanley said that he had a family emergency.
鈥淪ongs are the messenger,鈥� he said 鈥� the foundation of 鈥渆very show.鈥�
Soft rock legend Kenny Loggins (鈥淔ootloose,鈥� 鈥淒anny鈥檚 Song鈥�) and were also inducted.
For the latter, Brandi Carlile performed 鈥淯ninvited鈥� alongside SistaStrings, before introducing Morissette.
鈥淲riting to me is not a hobby,鈥� Morissette said, it鈥檚 critical. 鈥淚t鈥檚 write or die.鈥� Then she performed 鈥淢ary Jane鈥� and “You Oughta Know” from her
For Loggins, Gavin DeGraw performed 鈥淒anny鈥檚 Song,鈥� before Loggins told the story behind the tune in his acceptance speech.
Acknowledging writers and their hits
Taylor Dayne and Madison Cunningham performed written by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle in honor of their induction; John Fogerty was honored with the Johnny Mercer Award.
鈥淚 got my songs back!鈥� Fogerty said, ending a nearly 30-minute speech, referencing the fact that he at age 80. Then he ran through a medley of his hits: 鈥淧roud Mary,鈥� 鈥淔ortunate Son,鈥� and 鈥淗ave You Ever Seen the Rain鈥� among them.
The songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey鈥檚 鈥淎ll I Want for Christmas Is You鈥�) was also recognized, a segment that began with an introduction by actor Jeremy Renner and included a monster medley of his biggest songs by R&B singer Shel茅a, kicking off with his Christmas classic six months early.
鈥淚 wanted to be The Beatles,鈥� he said of falling in love with songwriting in his speech. 鈥淪ixty years later, I got to produce Paul McCartney.鈥�
An established tradition
British singer-songwriter RAYE received the prestigious Hal David Starlight Award. She ended her speech by stating that songwriters deserve a cut of master royalties.
included George Clinton, The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney 鈥淒arkchild鈥� Jerkins, The Beach Boys鈥� Mike Love and Tony Macaulay.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.
Some already in the hall include Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
