PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED INDUCTEES INCLUDE:
WALTER AFANASIEFF; TERRY BRITTEN AND GRAHAM LYLE; GENE SIMMONS AND PAUL STANLEY OF KISS; KENNY LOGGINS; ALANIS MORISSETTE; CHRISTOPHER “TRICKY” STEWART; AND TAYLOR SWIFT
JOHN FOGERTY PREVIOUSLY SET AS JOHNNY MERCER AWARD RECIPIENT
The Songwriters Hall of Fame announced today that four-time GRAMMY Award-nominated singer-songwriter Rachel Agatha Keen p/k/a RAYE will be the 2026 recipient of the eminent Hal David Starlight Award, at the 55th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner slated for Thursday, June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The Hal David Starlight Award, created in 2004, was named in honor of SHOF Chairman Emeritus Hal David, for his longtime support of young songwriters. Award recipients are gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs. RAYE joins the distinguished company of Gracie Abrams, SZA, Post Malone, Lil Nas X, Halsey, Sara Bareilles, Ed Sheeran, Nick Jonas, Nate Ruess, Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds, Taylor Swift, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, Drake, Benny Blanco, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, Rob Thomas, and John Rzeznik.
SHOF Chairman Nile Rodgers said, "RAYE is exactly the kind of songwriter Hal David would have adored — someone who writes from the deepest, most unguarded part of herself, and somehow makes the whole world feel seen in the process. What makes her story so remarkable is that long before she was a superstar in her own right, she was already quietly shaping the sound of a generation. As a songwriter, her incredible range spans pop, R&B and dance — leaving its mark on hit records like Beyoncé's 'Bigger,' sparking something electric on Charli XCX's 'After the Afterparty,' bringing real tenderness to Ellie Goulding's 'Sixteen,' and delivering Little Mix a straight-up hit with 'Told You So.' This award doesn't just shine a light on her talent — it illuminates a journey that has been extraordinary from the very beginning. Congratulations RAYE — you are truly what great songwriting is all about.”
RAYE has emerged as one of the most formidable singer-songwriters of her generation, building a career defined by fearless artistry, global chart success, and uncompromising lyricism. Since 2014, RAYE has charted 21 Top 40 singles in the UK and amassed over 10 billion cumulative career streams. In 2024, the South London native made history at the BRIT Awards, winning six honors — including “Album of the Year” — the most ever in a single year, from a total of seven nominations. Her growing list of accolades also includes an Ivor Novello Award for “Songwriter of the Year,” “Best UK & IE Artist” at the MTV EMAs, and the Ivors Academy’s special “Songwriter Advocate Award.” She has additionally been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, received Variety’s “Triple Threat” Award, and earned nominations for BET’s “Best International Act” and “Video For Good” at the MTV VMAs.
RAYE’s highly anticipated sophomore album, This Music May Contain Hope., showcases her continued artistic evolution. The project marks her first-ever No. 1 album in the UK, her highest debut on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., and a Top 10 placement in 16 countries. The LP is led by the UK No. 1 hit “Where Is My Husband!,” which has surpassed 1 billion streams, peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, and became RAYE’s second Top 10 on Billboard’s Pop Airplay chart. The single is certified Triple Platinum in Brazil; Double Platinum in Australia; Platinum in the U.S., UK, Belgium, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and New Zealand; and Gold in seven additional territories.
Entirely written and composed by RAYE, This Music May Contain Hope. also features previously released tracks including the soaring ballad “Nightingale Lane.” and “Click Clack Symphony.,” the latter created in collaboration with Hans Zimmer and accompanied by a cinematic video directed by Dave Meyers. The album includes contributions from Al Green, the London Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Tom Richards), Flames Collective Choir, and her sisters Amma and Absolutely, alongside co-production from Mike Sabath, Tom Richards, Chris Hill, Pete Clements, Jordan Riley, and Punctual.
RAYE’s impact as a songwriter extends far beyond her own catalog, with credits spanning some of the most influential artists in global music, including “Bigger” by Beyoncé, “Told You So” by Little Mix, “After The Afterparty” by Charli XCX, “Home With You” by Madison Beer, “A Good Night” by John Legend, “Born Again” by LISA (BLACKPINK), and “Capital Letters” by Hailee Steinfeld and BloodPop.
Most recently, RAYE received the Recording Academy’s “Harry Belafonte Best Song For Social Change” CEO Merit Award for her raw and deeply personal track “Ice Cream Man.,” which amplifies the voices of sexual assault survivors. She was also nominated at the 68th Grammy Awards for the music film Live At The Royal Albert Hall - a one-night-only performance backed by a 50-piece orchestra and gospel choir—which was also released on vinyl and broadcast on the BBC and PBS. In 2025, she earned additional GRAMMY nominations for “Best New Artist” and “Songwriter of the Year (Non-Classical),” becoming the first artist in Recording Academy history to receive nominations in these two categories simultaneously.
RAYE has spent the past two months lighting up arenas across Europe and the UK on her 51-date THIS TOUR MAY CONTAIN NEW MUSIC run, joined by Amma and Absolutely. The tour includes six nights at London’s The O2, before heading to North America for a fully sold-out run, with stops at Radio City Music Hall (April 15–16) and the Greek Theatre (May 12–13). This summer, she will join Bruno Mars as a special guest on The Romantic Tour, performing across 26 stadium dates throughout North America.