Taylor Swift becomes the youngest woman inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at age 36

By — Maria Sherman, Associated Press Maria Sherman, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/taylor-swift-becomes-the-youngest-woman-inducted-into-the-songwriters-hall-of-fame-at-age-36 Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Taylor Swift becomes the youngest woman inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at age 36 Arts Jun 12, 2026 2:48 PM EDT NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night at age 36. "It was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it," she said of songwriting through a raspy voice she attributed to screaming along to the night's performances and Wednesday night's historic NBA game between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. She told the room about her family uprooting their lives to move her from Pennsylvania to Nashville, Tennessee, as a tween. READ MORE: Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Chaka Khan among 25 artists added to National Recording Registry "I will never be able to express my gratitude," the singer-songwriter said while holding back tears — crediting their sacrifice for her career. She offered young songwriters advice: "You really have to prioritize what you love, down to your very core. Because you'll need that." Steven Spielberg introduced Swift with a surprise speech about the power of songwriting. "There is something undeniable about how songs imprint on our souls," he said, before changing his focus to Swift. "Somehow Taylor knows us all too well." READ MORE: Taylor Swift files new trademark applications. One expert says it is to curb AI threats Swift started her speech by acknowledging Spielberg. "Because of examples like Steven's, I trusted my imagination," she said. The Gen Z singer Sombr launched Swift's segment by performing "Cardigan" and "Dear John" in front of her. Swift has brought new eyes to this year's ceremony and undeniably shaped contemporary pop music trends with her songwriting. Swift is the youngest woman inducted, but Stevie Wonder, who started his recording career at 13, was the youngest ever inducted, it was announced on stage. It was a notable moment in an evening full of them, where Swift, Kiss' Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Alanis Morissette, Kenny Loggins and more were honored. A night of celebrating songwriters Tamar Braxton opened the gala at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City with a spirted tribute to a new inductee — the game-changing R&B songwriter, producer and rapper Christopher "Tricky" Stewart — with one of the biggest songs he's known for: Beyoncé's "Single Ladies." He's also responsible for singer-songwriter Rihanna's "Umbrella," Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body" and Justin Bieber's "Baby." Dallas Austin, a songwriter and producer known for work with Boyz ll Men and Madonna, introduced Stewart. "Think about that catalog," he said, listing off those zeitgeist-shifting records. "Tho