NEW YORK \u2013 \u201cYou can have the best-looking car in the world. But if you don\u2019t have an engine, you\u2019re not going anywhere. So you have to have a great song.\u201d<\/p>\n
So said Paul Stanley<\/a> early Thursday morning as he and his KISS bandmate of 50-plus years Gene Simmons chatted at USA TODAY\u2019s office about 12 hours before they would receive their flowers as inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s ceremony, held at the Marriott Marquis in midtown Manhattan on June 11, honored a class that also included Walter Afanasieff<\/a> (Mariah Carey, Celine Dion); Terry Britten and Graham Lyle<\/a> (Tina Turner); Kenny Loggins<\/a>; Alanis Morissette<\/a>; Christopher \u201cTricky\u201d Stewart<\/a> (Rihanna, Beyonc\u00e9); and Taylor Swift<\/a>.<\/p>\n A songwriter with a notable catalog\u00a0of\u00a0songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release\u00a0of\u00a0a song.<\/p>\n Shane Fogerty and John Fogerty roar through several of Fogerty’s hits at the 2026 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 11, 2026 in New York City.<\/p>\n In addition, John Fogerty<\/a>, who was inducted in 2005, was honored with the Johnny Mercer Award for songwriters who have \u201cachieved gold-standard status in music history,\u201d while Raye<\/a> received the Hal David Starlight Award, given to young songwriters making a significant impact in the music industry with original songs.<\/p>\n The 4 \u00bd-hour ceremony varied between longwinded and succinct.<\/p>\n Fogerty spoke for nearly 40 minutes (\u201cI love music. It\u2019s supposed to be about joy. It\u2019s supposed to be about fun!,\u201d he said in the midst of a detailed career overview) and performed a trio of songs with sons Shane and Tyler including \u201cProud Mary.\u201d Meanwhile, Stanley quickly accepted his award sans Simmons, who he said had a \u201cfamily emergency at a local hospital.\u201d (USA TODAY has reached out to Simmons\u2019 rep for more information.)<\/p>\n The high-wattage that packed the ballroom included actors (Jeremy Renner introduced his friend Afanasieff, Jane Seymour<\/a> talked up the careers of Britten and Lyle) and one very famous director, Steven Spielberg<\/a>, who helped close out the ceremony with an eloquent speech to introduce Swift.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked AI how many words have been written about Taylor. It couldn\u2019t tell me. I asked AI how many words have been written ABOUT Taylor. It couldn\u2019t tell me,\u201d Spielberg said. \u201cThe depths of her achievements defy AI.\u201d<\/p>\n Swift, the youngest female inductee in the history of the SHOF, spent the evening having a blast with fianc\u00e9 Travis Kelce<\/a> by her side and her family, as well as Donna Kelce, filling the table. Regardless of the performer, Swift mouthed along with words and leaped to her feet to give ovations, cementing her status as a fan as well as an icon.<\/p>\n Here are some standout moments from the 2026 ceremony.<\/p>\n Sombr performs for Taylor Swift at the 2026 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 11, 2026 in New York City.<\/p>\n A humble Sombr<\/a>, his lanky frame clad in a black suit, offered impassioned versions of \u201cCardigan\u201d and \u201cDear John.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so nervous,\u201d he said after \u201cCardigan,\u201d joking that it was hard to sing Swift\u2019s songs in her presence. \u201cThank you, Taylor, for trusting me.\u201d<\/p>\n Swift blew him a kiss and loudly applauded his performances.<\/p>\n When it came time to accept her honor, Swift spoke eloquently about how, for her, songwriting was (unlike learning the music business or how to dance) instinctual ever since childhood.<\/p>\n \u201cIn a world consumed by metrics and data, writers need to trust their human intuition,\u201d she said to a roar of cheers. \u201cYou can be sensitive, but also durable.\u201d<\/p>\n Chauntee Ross of SistaStrings and Brandi Carlile perform onstage during the 2026 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 11, 2026 in New York City.<\/p>\n With SistaStrings behind her, Carlile rolled<\/a> through Morissette\u2019s slow-burner \u201cUninvited,\u201d which led to Carlile\u2019s foot stomping the stage and her hair flopping during the song\u2019s escalation.<\/p>\n Carlile called Morissette\u2019s 1995 breakthrough \u201cJagged Little Pill,\u201d \u201ca masterclass in knowing oneself\u201d and the Canadian singer\u2019s oeuvre, \u201cPure, unapologetic innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n Morissette read from notes about how she has to \u201cwrite or die.\u201d Songwriting, she said, \u201cmakes meaning out of pain and pain out of joy.\u201d<\/p>\n Before singing searing versions of \u201cMary Jane\u201d and \u201cYou Oughta Know\u201d while sitting between two acoustic guitarists, Morissette made a plea to those in the education system.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t remove arts programs, writing and music. These are some of the primary ways humans metabolize experiences,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Billy Corgan (left) and John Rzeznik “Shout it Out Loud” to honor KISS’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley at the 2026 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 11, 2026 in New York City.<\/p>\n The black-coated Corgan added his own rock muscle to the definitive KISS anthem, \u201cRock \u2018n\u2019 Roll All Nite,\u201d as he paced the stage and barely needed to encourage the crowd to sing and fist bump along.<\/p>\n Goo Goo Dolls singer John Rzeznik joined Corgan for a thumping rendition of \u201cShout it Out Loud,\u201d while Stanley, sitting with his wife and adult children, nodded along approvingly.<\/p>\n Gavin DeGraw (left) celebrates honoree Kenny Logginsduring the 2026 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony at The New York Marriott Marquis on June 11, 2026 in New York City.<\/p>\n Following his own lengthy speech, primarily about his brother, Dan, the inspiration for \u201cDanny\u2019s Song,\u201d Loggins turned on his best yacht rock grooves for \u201cHeart to Heart.\u201d<\/p>\n The gliding soft rock hit was the warmup for \u201cCelebrate Me Home,\u201d which Loggins dedicated to the late record producer Phil Ramone, who encouraged the singer-songwriter to keep it as a song title.<\/p>\n A six-piece choir and inductor Gavin DeGraw buffed up the nostalgic ballad, which, despite Loggins\u2019 standing as the soundtrack king (see: \u201cFootloose,\u201d \u201cTop Gun\u201d) demonstrated why \u201cCelebrate\u201d is his defining song.<\/p>\n This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Songwriters Hall of Fame highlights from Taylor Swift, KISS<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/div>\n
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Brandi Carlile bows to Alanis Morissette<\/h2>\n
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Billy Corgan and John Rzeznik honor KISS<\/h2>\n
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Kenny Loggins celebrates with Gavin DeGraw<\/h2>\n
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