Shakira is in the running for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She is among the nominees for the hall's 2027 class, on a ballot that also includes Lady Gaga, Pink, Boy George, Jack White, Sia, Vince Gill and Ne-Yo, The Associated Press reports.
The AP described this year's list as an especially eclectic mix of pop, hip-hop, Latin, funk and rock songwriters. Other performing nominees include Blondie's Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, America's Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell, Grandmaster Melle Mel, members of ZZ Top and members of the band War.
Black hitmakers on the songwriter ballot
The hall honors both performers and writers who mostly work behind the scenes. Among the non-performing nominees is Kandi Burruss, recognized for TLC's "No Scrubs," Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills" and NSYNC's "It Makes Me Ill." Will.i.am is nominated in the same category for songs including the Black Eyed Peas' "Where Is the Love" and "I Gotta Feeling," Usher's "OMG" and John Legend's "Ordinary People." According to the AP, performers like will.i.am and Burruss land in the non-performing category because they are being honored for their work with a range of other artists.
Other songwriter nominees include Boy Meets Girl, the duo of George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam behind Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" and "How Will I Know"; Maurice Starr, writer of New Edition's "Candy Girl"; and Stargate, the Norwegian team behind Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" and Rihanna's "Diamonds."
Eligible voting members have until midnight Eastern on Dec. 14 to submit ballots, choosing up to three nominees from each category. The 2027 inductees will be announced early next year. A songwriter qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song, and the 2026 class included Taylor Swift, Alanis Morissette and Kenny Loggins.
For more on Shakira, revisit Cup of Soul's coverage of her historic Copacabana concert.
