Inductees:
George Clinton | Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers | Ashley Gorley | Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins | Mike Love | Tony Macaulay
Special Award Recipients:
Stephen Schwartz | Gracie Abrams
Presenters/Performers:
Garth Brooks | Mary-Mitchell Campbell | Kristin Chenoweth | Aaron Dessner | Dan + Shay | Sadie Gorley | Debbie Gibson | Heavenly, Hannah Joy & Royal Jerkins | Vernon Reid, Corey Glover, Will Calhoun & Doug Wimbish (p/k/a Living Colour) | MŌRIAH | Sam Opoku | Daphne Browdy | Mary Kate Morrissey | Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (p/k/a Pasek and Paul) | Teddy Riley | Nile Rodgers | John Stamos
The 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame Annual Induction and Awards Dinner was a sparkling success, as SHOF President/CEO Linda Moran and Chairman Nile Rodgers recognized and celebrated some of the best songwriting legends of our time. Musical icons George Clinton; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers; Ashley Gorley; Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; Mike Love; and Tony Macaulay were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Honored with special awards were Stephen Schwartz with the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award and Gracie Abrams with the Hal David Starlight Award.
The Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards dinner, year after year, is a night full of unforgettable moments celebrating the art of songwriting. The evening kicked off with a standing ovation for Linda Moran before Nile Rodgers introduced Living Colour who delivered a groovy performance of “Cosmic Slop.” George Clinton was inducted as “the man who brings us together as one nation under a groove” prior to performing a stunning rendition of “(I Wanna) Testify” bringing the crowd to their feet.
SHOF scholarship recipients MŌRIAH, Sam Opoku, and Daphne Browdy performed songs by Tony Macaulay, before Debbie Gibson honored Macaulay with an energetic performance of his timeless classic “Build Me Up Buttercup” before his induction.
To celebrate Ashley Gorley, Dan + Shay performed a sing-a-long medley of “You Should Probably Leave,” “Last Night,” “Play It Again,” “All American Girl” and “I Had Some Help,” then Sadie Gorley delivered a heartfelt speech for her father and a tear jerking performance of “You’re Gonna Miss This” before his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Fellow inductee, Teddy Riley introduced Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins with a touching speech and his children honored his songwriting legacy with a remarkable rendition of “The Boy Is Mine, followed by a 10-song medley that included “Say My Name,” “It’s Not Right But It’s Ok,” “He Wasn’t Man Enough,” “If You Had My Love,” and more, ending in a standing ovation.
The evening continued as Pasek and Paul honored Stephen Schwartz with the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award by performing a medley of “Colors of The Wind” and “Corner Of The Sky.” Kristin Chenoweth and Mary Kate Morrissey, accompanied by Mary-Mitchell Campbell on piano, also enchanted the audience with a stunning performance of “For Good.” Prior to his memorable performance of “Can You Imagine That?” Schwartz said, that his name being on the Songwriter Hall of Fame list “is so stunning and humbling.”
John Stamos inducted dear friend Mike Love into the Songwriters Hall of Fame stating Love’s “lyrics are cinematic” as he joined him for an exciting medley of “California Girls,” ‘I Get Around,” “Kokomo,” and “Good Vibrations.” Prior to the sing-along performance, Love said that “gratitude is the main emotion he feels and that it’s a great honor.”
Aaron Dessner took to the stage to honor Gracie Abrams with the Hal David Starlight Award, which is presented to young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs. Dessner said Gracie is ”one of the greatest songwriters and musicians in the world today” and “one of the most gifted lyricists and melodic writers” he has ever encountered. After receiving her award, Abrams performed “Free Now.”
Garth Brooks made a surprise appearance, delighting the audience with an electric performance of “Long Train Runnin” and “China Grove” in honor of his friends Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers ahead of their induction. The celebratory evening concluded when Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons of The Doobie Brothers performed “Black Water,” “Takin’ It To The Streets,” and “Listen to the Music.”
