Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins, KISS duo elected to Songwriters Hall of Fame
Inducted: File photo. Taylor Swift heads the Class of 2026 inductees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording A)
ByBob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins and KISS members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons headed up the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class announced on Wednesday.
Alanis Morissette, Walter Afanasieff, Terry Britten, Graham Lyle and Christopher “Tricky” Stewart were the other inductees who will be enshrined during a ceremony on June 11 in New York City.
Special award honorees for the induction ceremony will be announced soon, the Hall said.
To gain entry into the Hall, artists must have written a major catalog of songs that included tunes with major commercial success, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Swift, 36, is the youngest woman elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, which was established in 1969 and welcomed its first class the following year.
According to the Hall’s website, Stevie Wonder is the youngest inductee. The “Superstition” singer was enshrined in 1983, when he was 32.
Stanley, 74, and Simmons, 76, wrote “Rock and Roll All Nite.” “I Love It Loud,” “Calling Dr. Love,” “Shout It Out Loud” and “Christine Sixteen.”
Morissette, 51, penned “You Oughta Know,” “Ironic,” “Hand in My Pocket,” “Thank U” and “Uninvited.”
The songwriting catalog for Afanasieff, 67, includes “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “My All,” “Hero,” “Love Will Survive” and “One Sweet Day.”
Britten, 79, and Graham, 81, collaborated on “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” “Typical Male” and “Devil Woman.”
Stewart, 52, wrote "Umbrella," “Single Ladies,” “Obsessed,” “Just Fine” and “Break My Soul.”
“The music industry is built upon the incredible talent of songwriters who create unforgettable songs,” Hall of Fame chairman Nile Rodgers said in a statement. “Without their artistry, there would be no recorded music, concert experiences, or engaged fans. Everything originates from the song and its creator.
“We take great pride in our ongoing commitment to recognizing some of the most culturally significant composers in history.”
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Photos: Taylor Swift through the years Here are some memorable photos of Taylor Swift through the years. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2006: Country singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 41st annual Academy of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 23, 2006, in Las Vegas. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2007: Music artist Taylor Swift performs during the Academy of Country Music New Artists' Party for a Cause show at the MGM Grand Conference Center on May 14, 2007, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2008: Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 50th annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2009: Kanye West (left) jumps onstage after Taylor Swift (center) won the "Best Female Video" award during the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 2009, in New York City. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2010: Musicians Kary Perry and Taylor Swift during the 52nd annual Grammy Awards Salute to Icons Honoring Doug Morris held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 30, 2010, in Beverly Hills, California. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2011: Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez perform onstage during the "Speak Now World Tour" at Madison Square Garden on November 22, 2011, in New York City. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2012: Taylor Swift performs onstage during the MTV EMA's 2012 at Festhalle Frankfurt on November 11, 2012, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for MTV)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2013: Taylor Swift arrives at the 55th annual Grammy Awards on February 10, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARAS)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2014: Musician Taylor Swift attends the "Charles James: Beyond Fashion" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2014, in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2015: Taylor Swift, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian attend the 57th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center on February 8, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2016: Recording artist Taylor Swift attends the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Hosted By Graydon Carter at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 28, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California. (Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2017: Musician Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Super Saturday Night Concert at Club Nomadic on February 4, 2017, in Houston. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images for DIRECTV)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2018: Taylor Swift attends the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2019: Taylor Swift performs during the TIME 100 Gala 2019 Dinner at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 23, 2019, in New York City. (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for TIME)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2020: Taylor Swift attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival "Miss Americana" Premiere at Eccles Center Theatre on January 23, 2020, in Park City, Utah. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2021: Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, and Aaron Dessner accept the Album of the Year award for "Folklore" onstage during the 63rd annual Grammy Awards at the Los Angeles Convention Center on March 14, 2021, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 36th Annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ) (Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for The Rock and Ro)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2021: Taylor Swift attends the "All Too Well" New York Premiere on November 12, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (DIMITRIOS.KAMBOURIS@GETTYIMAGES.COM/Getty Images)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2021: Writer-director Taylor Swift attends a premiere for the short film "All Too Well" at AMC Lincoln Square 13 on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) (Evan Agostini/Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2022: Taylor Swift speaks during a graduation ceremony for New York University at Yankee Stadium in New York, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig/AP)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years 2022: Taylor Swift waves to graduates as she participates in a graduation ceremony for New York University at Yankee Stadium in New York, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) (Seth Wenig/AP)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management) (Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at BC Place on December 06, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Photo by Kevin Winter/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management) (Kevin Winter/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years Taylor Swift performs onstage during "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 01, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management) (Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS)
Photos: Taylor Swift through the years Taylor Swift attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording A)
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Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 1974: (L-R) Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the rock and roll band Kiss pose for a portrait for the cover of their self-titled first album "Kiss," which was released on February 18, 1974. (Photo by Ginny Winn/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Ginny Winn/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 1974: "The Demon" Gene Simmons of KISS shows his softer side as he greets a young fan backstage at Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom in Atlanta, Georgia. Circa September 1974. (Photo by Herb Kossover/Getty Images) (amy kossover/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 1975: Gene Simmons from Kiss poses with a policeman during the 'Day in the Life of a Town' in Cadillac, Michigan, on 9th October 1975. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) (Fin Costello/Redferns)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 1975: Gene Simmons from American rock band Kiss poses with Cadillac High School marching band members during the 'Day in the Life of a Town' in Cadillac, Michigan, on 9th October 1975. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) (Fin Costello/Redferns)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 1984: American rock musician Gene Simmons, of the group Kiss, performs onstage, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, December 30, 1984. (Photo by Paul Natkin/Getty Images) (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 1995: Gene Simmons of Kiss performs during the Kiss Convention at the Gift Center Pavilion on June 18, 1995, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) (Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 1996: Gene Simmons, bassist and singer for the rock band KISS, performs at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, on August 23, 1996. (Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Jim Steinfeldt/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2009: Corrad "CJ" Mazzuca presents a drawing to singer Gene Simmons as he signed copies of "KISS Kompendium" during his promotion of "KISS Kompendium" at Borders Books & Music, Columbus Circle on December 17, 2009, in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images) (Jemal Countess/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2010: Musician/TV personality Gene Simmons poses with his new Cort GS-Axe-2 bass guitar during the 2010 NAMM Show - Day 3 at the Anaheim Convention Center on January 16, 2010, in Anaheim, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images for NAMM) (David Livingston)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2010: Musicians Paul Stanley, Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, and Gene Simmons of KISS ring the NYSE closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on January 25, 2010, in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2010: Recording artist Gene Simmons attends a book signing for "KISS Kompendium" at Barnes & Noble Booksellers at The Grove on February 8, 2010, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) (David Livingston/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2011: Musician Gene Simmons attends the Dodgers v NY Mets game to throw out the first pitch of the game at Dodger Stadium on July 5, 2011, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2012: (L-R) Musician Tommy Thayer, musician Paul Stanley, singer Kelly Clarkson, musician Eric Singer, singer Reba McEntire, and musician Gene Simmons pose backstage at the 47th Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 1, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for ACM) (Rick Diamond/Getty Images for ACM)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2013: Gene Simmons attends The Friars Club Roast Honors Jack Black at the New York Hilton and Towers on April 5, 2013, in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2015: Gene Simmons of KISS performs during their opening show for the Australian leg of their 40th anniversary world tour at Perth Arena on October 3, 2015, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2017: Shannon Tweed-Simmons, Sophie Simmons and Gene Simmons attend 'The Children Matter', an exclusive charity event benefiting MATTER & The Starkey Hearing Foundation presented by Bridgehampton Benefit at Southampton Arts Center on July 29, 2017, in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Mike Pont/Getty Images for MATTER) (Mike Pont)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2017: Gene Simmons behind the scenes of Making with Michaels on August 23, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Michaels Companies ) (Matt Winkelmeyer)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2018: Nick Simmons, Gene Simmons, Shannon Tweed and Sophie Simmons attend the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "The Nun" at TCL Chinese Theatre on September 4, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Araya Diaz/Getty Images) (Araya Doheny/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2018: Gene Simmons attends the Annual Charity Day hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC and GFI at Cantor Fitzgerald on September 11, 2018, in New York City. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald) (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgera)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2020: Gene Simmons of Kiss performs onstage at Staples Center on March 04, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ABA) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for ABA)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2021: Kiss singer/bassist Gene Simmons poses in front of his acrylic on canvas work "The Birth" on display at the debut of Gene Simmons ArtWorks at Animazing Gallery at The Venetian Las Vegas on October 21, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2022: Gene Simmons of KISS performs during their last show in México, and as part of day 3 of the Hell & Heaven Metal Fest 2022 at Foro Pegaso on December 4, 2022, in Toluca, Mexico. (Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images) (Medios y Media/Getty Images)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2023: (L-R) Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Eric Singer of KISS pose as they light the Empire State Building in celebration of the band's final show at The Empire State Building on November 30, 2023, in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust) (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Re)
Photos: Gene Simmons through the years 2024: Gene Simmons attends The HISTORY Channel HISTORYTalks at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 21, 2024, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
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