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Taylor Swift will be adding another trophy to her shelf, as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame announced Tuesday that the superstar will be inducted into the hall this fall, becoming, at 36, the youngest writer ever
to receive the honor.
Swift sent a message to be read by Mark Ford, executive director of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, as he announced this year’s inductees in a livestream.
“From the time I started writing songs as a child, I fixated on Nashville as the perfect place to be,” said Swift in her statement. “I wanted to learn with and from the best and get to immerse myself in a community of storytellers, and thankfully Nashville turned out to be exactly what I’d dreamed of. A town that validated and prioritized hard work, determination and imagination. Where the writers show up to work every day even when the mysterious muses and the magic don’t. To be honored by this city I love so much is a beautiful thing, and I’m very grateful.”
The accolade follows on the heels of Swift having been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York in June, at which point she became the youngest female writer ever to join that hall.
Swift was inducted into the Nashville hall in a category that honors songwriters that have been at it for 20 years or longer, in what, not coincidentally, is the 20th anniversary year for her debut album, “Taylor Swift.”
Also named to the hall as part of Tuesday’s announcement: Lyle Lovett, Shawn Camp, Lee Thomas Miller and Bruce Channel.
“I’m so happy that Taylor Swift finally got a break,” quipped Miller, stepping to the podium at the announcement event to thank the hall. “She needed a win.”
Swift was elected in the contemporary songwriter/artist category, while Camp and Miller got in in the contemporary songwriter category, Channel in the veteran songwriter category, and Lovett in the veteran songwriter/artist division.
A list of credits probably isn’t necessary for Swift and Lovett, who write or co-write all of their material as recording artists. Camp also has renown as an artist, though he has enjoyed cuts with many hitmakers, including Garth Brooks’ Two Piña Coladas,” Willie Nelson’s “A Beautiful Time” and Brooks & Dunn’s “How Long Gone.” Miller’s credits include the Jamey Johnson hit “In Color,” Joe Nichols’ “The Impossible” and Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This.” Channel’s list of recorded hits includes the self-recorded “Hey! Baby!,” Mel McDaniel’s “Stand Up” and John Conlee’s “As Long as I’m Rockin’ With You.”
Other nominees this year included Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Phil Vassar, Jim Beavers, Rodney Clawson, Dallas Davidson, Marv Green, Neil Thrasher and Chris Tompkins.
The hall was established in 1970 and had 254 members prior to this announcement. Last year’s inductees were Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Jim Lauderdale, JJ Cale, Steve Bogard, Don Cook and Tony Martin.
The induction ceremony will take place at a yet-to-be-specified date this fall, Ford said.
