Not Inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2025 Inductees Updated)

Updated for 2025 Inductees

The 2025 Songwriters Hall Inductees have been announced: George Clitnon, Mike Love, Michael McDonald, Patrick Simmons & Tom Johnston (Doobie Brothers) in the Performers category. Ashley Gorley, Rodney Jerkins & Tony Macaulay in the Non-Performer category.

This is the first time since 2017 no women will be inducted in the performer/non-performer categories.

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

The most interesting thing that stuck out for me in that article is this:

"Each nominee must also personally approve their nomination, select five representative songs and provide a photo before ballots go out to roughly 1,850 voting members made up of industry professionals"

  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. 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".

Apparently, the Hall likes their main ceremony in June to have a "celebratory mood", according to Billboard.  Too many great names are missing from the Hall who are no longer alive. Both Prince and Cindy Walker were inducted in separate ceremonies this way in 2024.  As was Bert Berns in 2025.

There appears to be a separate ballot for deceased nominees.  

Here's my list of songwriters not inducted as of 2025: 

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
Donna Summer/Giorgio Moroder/Pete Bellotte

Dwight Yoakam

George Clinton

George Harrison
George Michael

Gerry Beckley/Dewey Bunnell
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
Kenny Loggins

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

Terry Britten/Graham Lyle

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