Janet Jackson, Eminem, N.W.A, George Clinton, Boy George, Sheryl Crow and Sonny Curtis, an original member of Buddy Holly’s Crickets who went on to compose the theme song for The Mary Tyler Moore Show (“Love Is All Around”) are among the 2025 nominees for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The nominees – see the full list below – were announced today. Eligible Hall of Fame voting members will have until midnight EST on December 22, 2024 to turn in ballots, with their choices of up to three nominees in each of the songwriter and performing songwriter categories. The winning nominees will be inducted at the 2025 Induction & Awards Gala in New York City.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating “the exceptional work and lives of composers and lyricists who make an indelible impact creating music around the world.” A songwriter with a catalog of notable songs qualifies for induction 20 years after their first significant commercial release of a song.
Here are the 2025 non-performing and performing nominees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame and five songs that are a representative sample of their extensive catalogs:
NON-PERFORMING SONGWRITERS
Walter Afanasieff
All I Want for Christmas Is You * Hero * License To Kill * Love Will Survive * One Sweet Day
Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan
Secret Agent Man * Eve Of Destruction * Where Were You When I Needed You * You Baby * Can I Get to Know You
Mike Chapman
The Best * Love Is A Battlefield * Ballroom Blitz * Stumblin’ In * Kiss You All Over
Sonny Curtis
Love Is All Around (Theme from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”) * I Fought the Law * Walk Right Back * More Than I Can Say * I’m No Stranger to the Rain
Tom Douglas
The House That Built Me * Little Rock * I Run To You * Grown Men Don’t Cry * Love Me Anyway
Franne Golde
Dreaming of You * Nightshift * Don’t Look Any Further * Don’t You Want Me * Stickwitu
Ashley Gorley
I Had Some Help * Last Night * You Should Probably Leave * Play It Again * You’re Gonna Miss This
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins
Say My Name * The Boy Is Mine * You Rock My World * Deja Vu * Telephone
Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter
One Tin Soldier (Theme from Billy Jack) * Don’t Pull Your Love * Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got) * It Only Takes a Minute * Country Boy (You Got Your Feet In L.A.)
Tony Macaulay
Baby Now That I’ve Found You * Build Me Up Buttercup * Don’t Give Up On Us * (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All * Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
Roger Nichols
We’ve Only Just Begun * Rainy Days and Mondays * I Won’t Last a Day Without You * Out in the Country * Times Of Your Life
Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham
I’m Your Puppet * Cry Like a Baby * A Woman Left Lonely * Out of Left Field * It Tears Me Up
Narada Michael Walden
How Will I Know * Freeway of Love * You’re a Friend of Mine * Baby Come to Me * Who’s Zoomin’ Who?
PERFORMING SONGWRITERS
Bryan Adams
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You * Heaven * All for Love * Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman? * Summer of ‘69
George Alan O’Dowd p/k/a Boy George
Karma Chameleon * Do You Really Want to Hurt Me * Time (Clock Of The Heart) * Love Is Love * Miss Me Blind
George Clinton
Atomic Dog * Flash Light * (Not Just) Knee Deep * I’d Rather Be with You * Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)
Sheryl Crow
All I Wanna Do * Soak Up The Sun * If It Makes You Happy * A Change Would Do You Good * Everyday Is a Winding Road
Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons p/k/a Doobie Brothers
Listen to the Music * Takin’ It to the Streets * Black Water * What a Fool Believes * Long Train Runnin’
Marshall Mathers p/k/a Eminem
Lose Yourself * Stan * Mockingbird * Houdini * Rap God
David Gates
Everything I Own * Make It with You * Baby I’m-a Want You * The Guitar Man * If
Janet Jackson
Black Cat * Together Again * Again * Got ‘til It’s Gone * Rhythm Nation
Tommy James
Mony Mony * Crimson and Clover * Crystal Blue Persuasion * Sweet Cherry Wine * Tighter, Tighter
Mike Love
California Girls * Good Vibrations * The Warmth of the Sun * I Get Around * Fun, Fun, Fun
Alanis Morissette
You Oughta Know * Ironic * Hand in My Pocket * Thank U * Uninvited
Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella p/k/a N.W.A
Express Yourself * Dopeman * Fuck Tha Police * Gangsta Gangsta * Straight Outta Compton
Steve Winwood
Higher Love * Gimme Some Lovin’ * I’m a Man * Valerie * Roll With It