Two decades after releasing “Tim McGraw,” Taylor Swift is now the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. (The youngest overall is Stevie Wonder, who was three years younger than Swift is now when he was picked). The Hall of Fame unveiled its 2026 class on CBS Mornings today, adding Swift to its list on her first year of eligibility. The five songs she submitted to show her breadth of talent and evolution as a songwriter were “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” “Anti-Hero,” “Blank Space,” “Love Story,” and “The Last Great American Dynasty.”
The full class spans genres and features modern geniuses who are making it in early alongside stalwarts of the industry who have scored hits over the course of decades. Along with Swift, household names who made it in include Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss, who are being inducted together. Founding band members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss were not included in the Hall of Fame, though they did write some Kiss songs. Notably, Criss wrote the band’s top-ten classic “Beth.” Alanis Morissette, who performed “You Oughta Know” with Swift in 2015, is also being inducted into the Hall. She’s joined by Kenny Loggins, a.k.a. the King of Movie Soundtracks.
Click here to preview your posts with PRO themes ››
The career songwriters being inducted are Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, writing team Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, and Walter Afanasieff. Tricky is best known for his work with pop stars like Rihanna (he wrote “Umbrella”) and Beyoncé (he wrote “Single Ladies” and “Break My Soul”). Britten and Lyle, as a team, are beloved for their work with Tina Turner, including the Song of the Year–winning smash “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” Finally, Afanasieff is well regarded for his ’90s collaborations with Mariah Carey, including on “Hero” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Carey herself was inducted into the SHOF in 2020, and “AIWFCIY” has gone to No. 1 on the Billboard charts every year since. Like a Hall of Fame, Christmas songs are forever.
