Mariah Carey, Eurythmics, Lil Nas X, More to Be Honored at Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony Tomorrow
variety.comJem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Grammys might be the most well-known music awards show in the world, but the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s ceremony is arguably the most unique.
The invite-only event, being held June 16 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City, and its awards honor the most important and yet most frequently overlooked people in the music business — the songwriter, duh — and it resembles a cross between the Grammys and an annual family reunion for the tight-knit songwriting and music-publishing community.At each ceremony, superstars receiving honors frequently tell the room that the accolade means more to them than any other award they’ve received, because it’s an endorsement and a validation from their peers.
It’s a place where Lionel Richie said, “I am humbled by the greatness in this room.” It’s a space where you’ll see superstars such as Billy Joel or Smokey Robinson or Ed Sheeran lauding the likes of Allee Willis, John Bettis and Chip Taylor as equals, as influences, as icons — because they know that person wrote or co-wrote “September,” “Top of the World” or “Wild Thing,” even if much of the world doesn’t.
The hours-long show’s musical performers are invariably A-list: Over the years we’ve seen Neil Diamond, Drake, Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt, Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Van Morrison, Cyndi Lauper, John Prine, Leon Russell, Elvis Costello and dozens of others, along with several completely unique homages: Lady Gaga singing Four Non-Blondes’ hit “What’s Up” to Linda Perry; Stevie Nicks belting “The Rose” to Bette Midler; Emmylou Harris performing Eric Clapton’s heartbreaking hit “Tears in Heaven” for the song’s co-writer Will Jennings; and one year, the evening ended with Billy Joel and Garth Brooks.
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