Congratulations are in order for Missy Elliott. The MC has become the first female rapper to be nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. If she’s able to make it in, she’ll become the third hip-hop artist to do so. Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri are the other two.
Also joining Missy as performing nominees in the 2019 class are Mariah Carey, Chrissie Hynde, Vince Gill, Mike Love, Jimmy Cliff, Jeff Lynne, Cat Stevens, John Prine, Lloyd Price, Tommy James, and The Eurythmics (Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart).
Non-performing nominees are Jack Tempchin, Dean Dillon, Jerry Fuller, Tom T. Hall, Roger Nichols, and Dallas Austin, who wrote hits for TLC, Madonna, Monica, Pink, and Boyz II Men.
For the record, songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years. Six songwriters, or songwriting groups, will be officially inducted at the Hall’s 50th annual Induction & Awards Gala in New York on June 13th. Eligible members can vote for three non-performing songwriters and three performing songwriters until December 17th.
Source: Billboard