(top row, left to right): Bryan Andrews | Rachel Barton | Jack Becker & Jonah Cuddy | Andrew Carrington | Meghan Chen
(second row, left to right): Peter Collins | Daniela Garcia p/k/a "Agua Tinta" | Malena Kingston | Jastin Martin | Darie McLeod
(third row, left to right): Courtney Paige Nelson | Sam Goodwin, Jacob Johnson and Nathan Wyatt p/k/a "Oceanic" | Benjamin Olatokunbo p/k/a "Benni Ola" | Dylan Phillips p/k/a "nobigdyl." | Grayson Pollard
(forth row, left to right): Allison Ponthier p/k/a "August Ponthier" | Camryn Quinlan | Lionna Romans | Reagan Sheedy | Milo Shreckinger
(bottom row, left to right): Chloe Southern | Cal Stamp | Miranda Tonsetic | Maris Ward | Luisa Wilson
The 2026 recipients of the
Abe Olman Scholarships for Excellence in Songwriting
Belmont University Songwriting Scholarship
NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award
USC Thornton School of Music Scholarship Award
Curtis Mayfield Scholarship Award
Bill Withers Scholarship
Songwriters of Tomorrow
John Titta Scholarship
Mac Davis "Song Painter" Scholarship
have been selected, SHOF President & CEO Linda Moran announced today. Recipients of the Abe Olman Scholarship for Excellence in Songwriting are selected by ASCAP, BMI and SESAC from their membership. Abe Olman, for whom this program is named, was both a major figure in the music publishing community and a songwriter himself, in addition to being one of the founders of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Abe Olman Scholarships, given out annually since 1990, have been made possible by his family in the interest of encouraging and supporting the careers of young songwriters. In 2002, one such recipient was John Stephens, whose scholarship funds enabled him to finish his first album which went on to win a GRAMMY under his professional name of John Legend. In 2007 he was presented with the SHOF's coveted Hal David Starlight Award.
The 2026 Abe Olman Scholarship recipients are:
- Bryan Andrews (SESAC)
- Jack Becker & Jonah Cuddy (BMI)
- Daniela Garcia p/k/a "Agua Tinta" (ASCAP)
- Jastin Martin (ASCAP)
- Courtney Paige Nelson (SESAC)
- Sam Goodwin, Jacob Johnson & Nathan Wyatt p/k/a "Oceanic" (SESAC)
- Benjamin Olatokunbo p/k/a "Benni Ola" (SESAC)
- Dylan Phillips p/k/a "nobigdyl." (ASCAP)
- Allison Ponthier p/k/a "August Ponthier" (ASCAP)
- Camryn Quinlan (BMI)
- Chloe Southern (BMI)
- Luisa Wilson (BMI)
The Belmont University Songwriting Scholarship is awarded to Belmont University Songwriting majors who possess tangible exceptional songwriting potential and the intangible qualities of bringing out the best of their collaborators and contributing to the larger community of songwriters. The 2026 recipients are Malena Kingston and Reagan Sheedy.
The NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar Award is presented to music composition students whose work holds great potential for success in the field, and embodies the art, craft, individuality and qualities of communication of the best songwriting. Cal Stamp and Miranda Tonsetic are the 2026 NYU Steinhardt Songwriting Scholar awardees.
The USC Thornton School of Music Scholarship Award is given annually to student songwriters who demonstrates exceptional professional potential through their art, craft and personal character as determined by the faculty of the Popular Music Program and Division of Contemporary Music. The 2026 recipients are Rachel Barton and Meghan Chen.
The Curtis Mayfield Scholarship, as created by his late widow Altheida, and son Cheaa Mayfield, recognizes a promising singer/songwriter whose work reflects the inspiration, spirit and soul of SHOF inductee Curtis Mayfield. Peter Collins is the recipient for 2026.
The recipient of the Bill Withers Scholarship, as intended by Marcia Withers and their daughter, singer/songwriter Kori Withers, is one whose work emulates the eloquence of songwriting together with the spirit and soul that defines the songs of SHOF inductee Bill Withers. The awardee for 2026 is Lionna Tomans.
The John Titta Scholarship is presented annually to a student songwriter who shows exceptional potential through their art and craft and whose personal and professional character mirrors that of longtime respected musician, songwriter, and industry executive, John Titta. Maris Ward is the recipient for 2026
The Songwriters of Tomorrow Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors attending a New York City public school, demonstrating the talent and desire to learn the craft of songwriting. The students are chosen based on an original song (lyrics and music), and the scholarships will extend an opportunity to pursue a career in music. The 2026 recipients are Andrew Carrington and Milo Shreckinger.
The Mac Davis "Song Painter" Scholarship
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is proud to announce the SHOF / Mac Davis "Song Painter"
Scholarship, which will now be presented to songwriting students at Belmont University and USC Thornton School of Music. As envisioned by the Mac Davis Family, the scholarship will be awarded for work that reflects the authenticity, emotional clarity, and storytelling excellence that defined Mac Davis’s legacy — marked by the rare ability to not only make a listener feel, but to vividly see the world of a song, as mastered by “The Song Painter.”
“Mac approached songwriting with curiosity and discipline—he was always listening, always observing. He had a way of turning everyday moments into something unforgettable, and he had immense respect for fellow songwriters who brought their own unique voices to the craft,” said Lisë Davis, when describing her late husband’s songwriting.
She added, “Mac had a remarkable gift for capturing the human experience with honesty, wit, and heart. He believed deeply in the power of a great song to connect people, to tell the truth, and to make us feel less alone. He always would say, ‘and sometimes God just whispers in your ears’. His songwriting was both deeply personal and universally relatable, and that’s what made it so timeless.”
A 2006 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Mac Davis’s music transcends genre, blending country, pop, and storytelling in a way that has resonated across generations. His songs have been recorded by a wide range of artists, including Bruno Mars, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, and Avicii, and continue to find new audiences. From timeless hits like “In the Ghetto” and “A Little Less Conversation” to his own recordings, his work continues to shape and inspire the songwriting community.
The recipients of the Mac Davis Scholarship emulate the diversity of songwriting and the ability to not only make one feel, but to also see the song setting - as mastered by “The Song Painter,” Mac Davis. The 2026 inaugural recipients are Daire McLeod and Garyson Pollard.