ABC/Image Group LAAlan Jackson and Bill Anderson are two of the newest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The country artists and songwriters will join a versatile 2018 class that includes rocker John Mellencamp, R&B stars Jermaine Dupri and Kool & the Gang, and Allee Willis, who’s written hit songs for many musical acts, including the theme song to TV’s Friends.
Each artist will be honored on June 14 in New York City for their lengthy career as songwriters. Bill’s songwriting career spans an incredible seven decades, beginning with his first major label cut in 1958 when he was 19: Ray Price‘s number-one hit, “City Lights.”
Alan Jackson — already a member of the Country Music and Nashville Songwriters Halls of Fame — will be inducted into the multi-genre class. Over a 30-year career, he’s penned more than 20 songs that he’s recorded and taken to the top of the charts.
“I started writing because somebody told me I needed some original material. I’d never even thought about writing or studied songwriting,” Alan says in a statement. “There are different aspects of your career, and they all bring different rewards and feelings…but the songwriting is very fulfilling. Songwriting is definitely the most creative part.”
Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame recognizes songwriters who’ve been published for a minimum of 20 years.
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