Not Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2026 Inductees Updated)

Updated for 2026 Inductees

The 2026 Songwriters Hall Inductees have been announced: Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins, Taylor Swift, Paul Stanley & Gene Simmons in the Performers category.  Terry Britten & Graham Lyle, Walter Afanasieff, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, in the Non-Performer category.

Here's a 2025 article with more info on the Song Hall process: The Song Hall Process

Here's something interesting to consider:

"Each nominee  must approve their nomination and select five representative songs and submit a photo before ballots are distributed to roughly 1,850 voting members, a body made up of music industry professionals."

"Voting is conducted electronically, with six inductees elected annually. Those chosen are notified privately ahead of the public announcement."

 Maybe this is why some big name acts haven't been nominated.  But then again isn't this what managers are for?  They don't get back to the Song Hall with an approval for their nomination.  But isn't this what managers are for?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                The Song Hall appears to be making an effort to induct deceased songwriters who received enough votes, but were denied induction by this ridiculous rule listed below:

"Deceased writers to be considered for posthumous induction were included in a special segment of the 2023 ballot. (There is now a separate ballot for deceased nominees).  As the annual SHOF gala normally does not include inductions for songwriters after their death, the organization intends to continue hosting future posthumous inductions at unique venues and special events". 

Here's my list of songwriters not inducted as of 2026: 

Alicia Keys

Ann & Nancy Wilson

Andreas Carlsson

B.B. King

Beyonce
Billy Joe Shaver
Bo Diddley
Bob McDill
Bobby Womack
Bonnie Raitt

Bootsy Collins 
Boz Scaggs
Bryan Adams
Bryan Ferry

Burton Cummings 
Carl Perkins

Chips Moman
Chrissie Hynde

Curly Putnam
Dallas Frazier
Dan Fogelberg
Dan Penn

David Byrne
David Gates
Dean Dillon
Debbie Harry/Chris Stein
Dion DiMucci

Dwight Yoakam

George Clinton

George Harrison
George Michael

Gerry Beckley/Dewey Bunnell

Giorgio Moroder/Pete Bellotte 
Guy Clark
Harry Nilsson
Harry Wayne Casey

J.J. Cale
Janet Jackson
Jerry Chesnut
Jerry Fuller
Jimi Hendrix

Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Cliff

Joe South

Joe Strummer/Mick Jones 
John Hiatt

John Legend
John D. Loudermilk
Kate Bush

Kix Brooks/Ronnie Dunn
Led Zeppelin
Lefty Frizzell

Lindsey Buckingham/Stevie Nicks/Christine McVie

LL Cool J

Lou Reed
Lucinda Williams
Luther Vandross
Madonna
Mark Knopfler
Mary J. Blige

Max D. Barnes

Mike Chapman/Nicky Chinn

Mike Stock/Matt Aitken/Pete Waterman
Muddy Waters
Neil Young
Nick Lowe
Outkast
Pam Sawyer
Paul Overstreet
Percy Mayfield
Pete Townshend
Peter Gabriel 
P.F. Sloan & Steve Barri
Phil Ochs

Pink

Randy Bachman
Randy Goodrum
Ric Ocasek

Richard Carpenter
Richard Thompson
Robbie Robertson
Robert "Mutt" Lange
Rod Stewart
Rod Temperton
Rodney Crowell
Roger Miller
Roger Waters/David Gilmour
Rosanne Cash

Sandy Linzer/Denny Randell

Sarah McLachlan 

Shania Twain
Shel Silverstein
Sheryl Crow

Sly Stone
Sonny Throckmorton
Spooner Oldham
Steve Earle

Steve Kipner
Steve Perry/Neal Schon/Jonathan Cain
Steve Winwood

The Doors
Tim Hardin

Todd Rundgren

Tom Snow
Tom Waits
Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart
Tony Joe White

Toots Hibbert
Townes Van Zandt
Tracy Chapman
U2
Vince Gill
Warren Zevon
Waylon Jennings

2026 Rock Hall Nominee Predictions

  There are no slam dunk first year eligibles this year.    I've tried to add some first time nominees though.  And a few returnees.  Going with 15 nominees. There were 14 last year. 

Alanis Morissette - 90's female Alt/Rock singers haven't been making it on the ballot.  But Alanis is still a big act from that era. Never nominated. 

B-52's - New wave legends have surprisingly (shockingly?) never been nominated.  

Beck - Nominated once in 2022, but a performer at last year’s induction ceremony. Seems like a good time to bring him back. 

Bryan Adams - His appearance as an inductor and performer at last year's Hall ceremony should help with a first time nomination.  

Coldplay - The Hall wants a big name that is still active and popular and big in the 00's. Never nominated

De La Soul - Hard to predict what rap act will go in after OutKast last year. Snoop would walk right in. But would the Wu-Tang Clan? Would De La Soul? Never nominated. 

Iron Maiden - What to about Metal? It’s a yearly puzzle. This twice nominated act (2021/23) is often mentioned as the next Metal artist to be inducted. But are the votes there this time? 

Jethro Tull - Are there still some classic rock era names left to nominate? Here’s one that comes up often. Never nominated. 

Lenny Kravitz - Nominated in 2024, but not last year.  

Luther Vandross - I predicted his nomination last year thanks to a 2024 documentary that got a lot of press.  But the Kendrick Lamar song that sampled him, "Luther" got quite a bit of airplay in 2025.  So, I'll try again.  Never nominated

Mariah Carey - Kind of a shock, to me at least that she can't get in.   This would be nomination number 3 (in a row).

Melissa Etheridge - We tend to forget how popular she was in the mid-90’s. Newish nomcom member Sheryl Crow thinks she belongs in the Hall. Never nominated. 

Monkees - Chubby Checker's induction showed that the right name from the 60's could still get an induction from the ballot.  This group would do the same thing. And it’s their 60th anniversary.  Never nominated.  

Oasis - The Gallagher brothers came storming back with a much publicized tour last year.  This would be nomination number 3 (in a row).

Smashing Pumpkins - Time for more 90's alt-rock acts to get noticed.  This band seems to have been just waiting for their turn at a nomination.  Never nominated. 

Playlist for 1/18

Charley Pride - Charley

Johnny Cash - Look At Them Beans

Tanya Tucker - Tanya Tucker (1975)

Gene Watson - Love In The Hot Afternoon

Bobby Bare - Hard Time Hungrys

Tompall Glaser - Tompall

David Allan Coe - Once Upon A Rhyme

Johnny Rodriguez - Just Get Up and Close the Door

Earl Scruggs - Anniversary Special

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Symphonion Dream

Orville Peck - Appaloosa

Black Crowes - Amorica

Songs About Elvis Presley

Updated January 2026

There have been more songs written about Elvis Presley than any other performer.   No surprise since he's one of the most important musicians of all time. But doing research for this post, even I couldn't believe how many songs about Elvis have been released.  Im missing a lot of songs. I can't claim that all the ones  listed below are stellar.  A lot of tribute records can be pretty mawkish, no matter the subject.  But there's certainly many good ones and at the very least, interesting takes on Elvis' legacy.

Billy Burnette - Today Is Elvis' Birthday

Bob Dylan - Went To See The Gypsy

Bobby Bare (as Bill Parsons) - All American Boy
Bruce Springsteen - Come On (Let's Go Tonight)
Bruce Springsteen - Johnny Bye Bye

Bryan Adams - Hey Elvis 

Carmella Rosella - Oh It Was Elvis

Chris Wall - Half Of What Killed Elvis
Confederate Railroad - Elvis and Andy

Danny Mirror - I Remember Elvis Presley

Dead Milkmen - Going to Graceland
Dire Straits - Calling Elvis

Dolly Parton & Ronnie McDowell - I Dreamed About Elvis
Elton John - Porch Swing in Tupelo

Fatboy - What Would Elvis Do?

Florence + The Machine - Morning Elvis

Frankie Allan - Just A Country Boy

George Jones - King Is Gone
George Michael - John and Elvis Are Dead

Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues

Hayden Thompson - Boy from Tupelo

James Brown - Love Me Tender (A remake, but first 30 seconds JB talks about his love for Elvis)
Janis Martin - My Boy Elvis
J.D. Sumner - Elvis Has Left The Building
Jerry Reed - Tupelo Mississippi Flash

Jillian Cardarelli - If I Could Talk To Elvis
Jim Ford - Story of Elvis Presley

Jimmy Webb - Elvis and Me

John Fogerty - Big Train
John Hiatt - Riding With The King
John Hiatt - Tennessee Plates

Johnny Earle - Private Elvis
Kacey Musgraves - Velvet Elvis

Kate Bush - King of the Mountain
Kenny Chesney - Jesus and Elvis
Lalo Guerrero - Elvis Perez

Lana Del Rey - Elvis 

Lenny LeBlanc - Hound Dog Man

Link Davis - Trucker from Tennessee

Link Wray - It Was Elvis

Lisa Marie Presley - Lights Out

Lola Kirke - Mississippi, My Sister, Elvis & Me

Marc Cohn - Walking In Memphis

Margo Price - Long Live The King

Merle Haggard - From Graceland to the Promised Land
Mojo Nixon - (619) 239-KING
Mojo Nixon - Elvis Is Everywhere
Neil Young - He Was The King

Nuns - Elvis Said
Odie Palmer - Letter to Elvis

Patty Loveless - I Try To Think About Elvis

Paul Simon - Graceland

Phil Lynott - King’s Call
Ray Stevens - Mama's In The Sky With Elvis

Richard Thompson - From Galway to Graceland 

Ronnie McDowell - The King Is Gone

Sonny Cole - I Dreamed I Was Elvis

Sonny Fisher - I Miss You Elvis
Stan Freberg - Heartbreak Hotel

Steve Forbert - House of Cards
Steve Goodman - Elvis Imitators

Stray Cats - Elvis On Velvet

T M Hanna - I Saw Elvis At The K-mart
Unknown (Jimmy Fields) - I Have Returned

U2 - Elvis Presley & America

Wall of Voodoo - Elvis Bought Dora A Cadillac

Wanda Jackson - I Wore Elvis' Ring
Warren Zevon - Jesus Mentioned
Warren Zevon - Porcelain Monkey

Weeklings - Little Elvis

Ranking: Songs from Elvis Presley - Elvis' Golden Records

   This was Elvis' first compilation.  Comprising songs from 1956/57.  Released in March 1958.  For me this was the first greatest hits album I remember hearing.  The reason is my parents bought a copy after Elvis died in 1977.  In fact they bought a few other Elvis titles after he died.  Now before 1977, my Dad was already a huge Elvis fan.  He bought albums that Elvis recorded in the early 70's.  So, I heard these albums all throughout my young life.  But oddly they never had an Elvis compilation album.  So, this is one has always been close to my heart.  Nine A-Sides, 4 B-sides and one album track.  For many this was where to start with Elvis.

1.  Jailhouse Rock

2.  Don't Be Cruel

3.  Hound Dog

4.  All Shook Up

5.  Heartbreak Hotel

6.  Love Me Tender

7.  Love Me

8.  (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear

9.  Treat Me Nice

10.  Too Much

11. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

12. Loving You

13. Anyway You Want Me

14. That's When Your Heartaches Begin

Playlist for 1/2

Geese - Getting Killed

Last Dinner Party - From the Pyre 

Steve Martin & Alison Brown - Safe, Sensible & Sane

Chrissie Hynde - Duets Special

Vince Gill - I Gave You Everything I Had/Secondhand Smoke

Willie Nelson - Workin' Man 

Bruce Springsteen - Electric Nebraska 

Elvis Presley - King In The Ring

Sam Fender - People Watching

Lily Allen - West End Girl 

Dijon - Baby

Miguel - Caos

Macis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World 

Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Vol. 18 Highlights

Carl Perkins - Some Things Never Change 

Florence & The Machine - Everybody Scream

Luke Bell - The King is Back

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (2025 Film) 

Latest Podcast Appearance (Rock in Retrospect Podcast)

 I joined the Rock in Retrospect podcast to predict and discuss potential 2026 Rock Hall nominees.  Yes, it's that time of the year again. 4 other folks joined me and host Nick Bambach.  

Rock in Retrospect

Intro to My New 2026 Monthly Post: Ranking Album Tracks

  I enjoyed doing this project in 2025 that I've decided to continue it in 2026.

  Intro to Ranking:  Since this is the first in a monthly series I want to give a brief history of my album listening habits.  The 1980's was the decade where I started to buy more albums than singles.  This mostly had to do with finances. So, I was still buying singles for the most part over albums.  I turned 18 in May 1982, and started working more.  Which means more money.  Not that I wasn't buying albums before the 80's.  I worked part-time in the late 70's and able to buy an album here and there.  The first albums I bought were in 1976.  I think the first was the Bee Gees' comeback one, Main Course.  Until 1982 it was mostly singles.  And I still bought them until the late 80's, but not as much.  Also, as I got older my listening interests changed.  It wasn't just the latest albums at the top of the charts that interested me, but other genres.  Country, Indie Rock, Alt-Rock, Rap were growing during the 80's.  I also subscribed to more music magazines, read more music books and watched more videos (MTV, VH1) in the 80's.  

  What I'm going to do in this series is spotlight some of my most played albums.  And rank the songs from them. 

Poll: December 1979 Songs

  December 1979.  Disco on its last legs.  But you wouldn't know that by looking at the list of songs below.  This chart is dominated by AC songs.  

Pop Radio Gold

"Rock With You", Michael Jackson : 1
"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", Michael Jackson : 2
"I Wanna Be Your Lover", Prince : 3
"Ladies Night", Kool & the Gang : 4
"Cruisin'", Smokey Robinson : 5
"This Is It", Kenny Loggins : 6
"Don't Do Me Like That", Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers : 7
"Rise", Herb Alpert : 8
"Please Don't Go", KC & the Sunshine Band : 9
"Pop Muzik", M : 10
"Jane", Jefferson Starship : 11
"Heartache Tonight", Eagles : 12
"Dreaming", Blondie : 13
"Tusk", Fleetwood Mac : 14
"You're Only Lonely", J.D. Souther : 15
"We Don't Talk Anymore", Cliff Richard : 16
"The Long Run", Eagles : 17
"Still", Commodores : 18
"Escape (The Pina Colada Song)", Rupert Holmes : 19
"Cool Change", Little River Band : 20
"Coward Of The County", Kenny Rogers : 21
"Sara", Fleetwood Mac : 22
"Do You Love What You Feel", Rufus & Chaka : 23
"Forever Mine", O'Jays : 24
"Dim All The Lights", Donna Summer : 25
"Babe", Styx : 26
"Head Games", Foreigner : 27
"You Decorated My Life", Kenny Rogers : 28
"Do That To Me One More Time", Captain & Tennille : 29
"Take The Long Way Home", Supertramp : 30
"Send One Your Love", Stevie Wonder : 31
"Ships", Barry Manilow : 32
"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer : 33
"Broken Hearted Me", Anne Murray : 34
"Half The Way", Crystal Gayle : 35
"Better Love Next Time", Dr. Hook : 36
"If You Remember Me", Chris Thompson & Night : 37
"I Want You Tonight", Pablo Cruise : 38