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Taylor Swift makes history as she joins Songwriters Hall of Fame

Yasmin MalikBBC Newsbeat
News imagePA Taylor Swift points into the distance with a grin and her eyes squinted beneath her blonde fringe. She wears a sparkly pink fitted bodice and red lipstick. The background is pinkish-purple gradient and matches her outfit.PA
Taylor Swift's latest accolade follows a record-breaking year for the pop sensation

Taylor Swift has become the youngest female artist inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

It follows a glittering few years for the 36-year-old pop superstar, who broke her own sales record with her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, in October.

She is among nine songwriters within the 2026 class, which also includes Canadian-American singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette and Walter Afanasieff, known for his work with Mariah Carey.

The singer will be welcomed into the prestigious club during a private ceremony in New York later this year.

'Everything originates from the song and its creator'

Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame honours those "whose work represents a spectrum of the most beloved songs from the world's popular music songbook".

It selects a small group of artists on an annual basis, and less than 500 people have been invited in over the last fifty years.

Announcing this year's inductees, chairman and Chic frontman Nile Rodgers said this year's line-up "not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres".

"These songwriters have profoundly impacted the lives of billions of listeners worldwide, and it is our privilege to honor their contributions," he added.

Also among the 2026 class is Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, who was behind Beyonce's Single Ladies and Break My Soul, and Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of rock band Kiss.

Footloose singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins and Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, who wrote Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It, have also been inducted.

News imageGetty Images Taylor Swift performing on stage. She is playing a black guitar and singing in to a microphone. She is wearing a red sparkly outfit with a red sparkly jacket. Getty Images
The pop superstar previously became the first performer to win the album of the year Grammy four times

Taylor is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, reaching stardom with her 12 studio albums and four re-recorded "Taylor's Versions" albums.

Last year, it was announced she had bought back the rights to her first six albums, ending a long-running and highly publicized battle over the ownership of her music.

While her latest album secured the UK's biggest opening week of 2025, after selling 304,000 copies in just three days.

She has been decorated with a host of awards over the years, including becoming the first performer to win the album of the year Grammy four times.

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