Eminem, N.W.A., Walter Afanasieff, Janet Jackson Top Songwriters Hall of Fame 2025 Nominees List

The Songwriters Hall of Fame announces its nominees for 2025, including Eminem, Janet Jackson, and Walter Afanasieff.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced its slate of nominees to be voted upon for its 2025 awards gala in New York City. This year’s nominees include Eminem, Janet Jackson, and Walter Afanasieff. Afanasieff is a songwriter and producer with nearly 40 years of experience, best known for his work with Mariah Carey.

Songwriters Hall of Fame 2025 Nominees for Induction

Songwriters

Walter Afanasieff — All I Want for Christmas Is You; Hero; License to Kill; Love Will Survive; One Sweet Day

Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan — Secret Agent Man; Eve of Destruction; Where Were You When I Needed You; You Baby; Can I Get to Know You

Mike Chapman (The Best; Love Is A Battlefield; Ballroom Blitz; Stumblin’ In; Kiss You All Over)

Sonny Curtis — Love Is All Around (Theme from The Mary Tyler Moore Show); I Fought the Law; Walk Right Back; More Than I Can Say; I’m No Stranger to the Rain

Tom Douglas — The House That Built Me; Little Rock; I Run To You; Grown Men Don’t Cry; Love Me Anyway

Franne Golde — Dreaming of You; Nightshift; Don’t Look Any Further; Don’t You Want Me; Stickwitu

Ashley Gorley — I Had Some Help; Last Night; You Should Probably Leave; Play It Again; You’re Gonna Miss Me

Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins — Say My Name; The Boy Is Mine; You Rock My World; Deja Vu; Telephone

Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter (One Tin Soldier (Theme from Billy Jack)); Don’t Pull Your Love; Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got); It Only Takes a Minute; Country Boy (You Got Your Feet In L.A.))

Tony Macaulay — Baby Now That I’ve Found You; Build Me Up Buttercup; Don’t Give Up On Us; (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All; Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)

Roger Nichols — We’ve Only Just Begun; Rainy Days and Mondays; I Won’t Last a Day Without You; Out in the Country; Times of Your Life

Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham — I’m Your Puppet; Cry Like a Baby; A Woman Left Lonely; Out of Left Field; It Tears Me Up

Narada Michael Walden — How Will I Know; Freeway of Love; You’re a Friend of Mine; Baby Come to Me; Who’s Zoomin’ Who?

Performing Songwriters

Bryan Adams — (Everything I Do) I Do It For You; Heaven; All for Love; Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?; Summer of ‘69

George Alan O’Dowd p/k/a Boy George — Karma Chameleon; Do You Really Want to Hurt Me; Time (Clock of the Heart); Love Is Love; Miss Me Blind

George Clinton — Atomic Dog; Flash Light; (Not Just) Knee Deep; I’d Rather Be With You; Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)

Sheryl Crow — All I Wanna Do; Soak Up the Sun; If It Makes You Happy; A Change Would Do You Good; Everyday Is a Winding Road

Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons p/k/a The Doobie Brothers — Listen to the Music; Takin’ It to the Streets; Black Water; What a Fool Believes; Long Train Runnin’

Marshall Mathers p/k/a Eminem — Lose Yourself; Stan; Mockingbird; Houdini; Rap God

David Gates — Everything I Own; Make It WIth You; Baby I’m-A Want You; The Guitar Man; If

Janet Jackson — Black Cat; Together Again; Again; Got ‘Til It’s Gone; Rhythm Nation

Tommy James — Mony Mony; Crimson and Clover; Crystal Blue Persuasion; Sweet Cherry Wine; Tighter, Tighter

Mike Love — California Girls; Good Vibrations; The Warmth of the Sun; I Get Around; Fun, Fun, Fun

Alanis Morissette — You Oughta Know; Ironic; Hand in My Pocket; Thank U; Uninvited

Dr. Dre, Easy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella p/k/a N.W.A. — Express Yourself; Dopeman; F*&k Tha Police; Gangsta Gangsta; Straight Outta Compton

Steve Winwood — Higher Love; Gimme Some Lovin’; I’m a Man; Valerie; Roll With It

The Songwriters Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating composers and lyricists whose work has made an indelible impact on the world. A songwriter qualifies for induction 20 years after their first significant commercial release of a song.