Wicked anthem “Defying Gravity” changed very little from its initial composition, except for one key change requested by Idina Menzel. The title for Funkadelic’s iconic “One Nation Under a Groove” came from a fan. The co-writer of timeless classic “Build Me Up Buttercup” tried desperately to get the word “Buttercup” out of the song. And the Beach Boys’ 1988 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Kokomo” is not only the band’s biggest sing-along song at their concerts but has sparked grade school students’ interest in geography.
The annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala returns for its 54th iteration on Thursday (June 12) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York, and we’ve got the stories behind some of the inductees’ biggest hits, in their own words, below.
The class of 2025 consists of George Clinton; Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons (of The Doobie Brothers); Ashley Gorley; Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins; Mike Love; and Tony Macaulay.
The SHOF will honor acclaimed composer Stephen Schwartz, whose musical theater and film credits include Wicked, Pippin, Godspell, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted, with this year’s Johnny Mercer Award.
Gracie Abrams — who won the American Music Award for new artist of the year in 2025 and was nominated for best new artist at the 2024 Grammy Awards — will receive The Hal David Starlight Award.
Earlier this week, The Doobie Brothers’ Tom Johnston and Michael McDonald talked to Billboard about their Songwriters Hall of Fame induction (as well as their upcoming album), which you can read here.
Below, Clinton, Schwartz, Gorley, Jerkins, Love and Macaulay break down some of their biggest hits.
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