Mariah Carey and The Neptunes will become the latest inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
They lead the class of 2020, which also includes The Isley Brothers, former Eurythmics members Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, Rick Nowels, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Steve Miller.
With 19 No. 1 hits, Carey is the most successful female songwriter in chart history. In addition to her five-octave vocal range, she has written or co-written 18 of her 19 chart-topping songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including her most recent “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” and holds the record as the songwriter with the most weeks spent at the No. 1 on the chart, with 77 weeks.
“I can’t believe it… The SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME!!!!” tweeted a humbled Carey. “This is truly one of the greatest honors of my career. I’m so proud and humbled to be in the company of such legendary songwriters – both previously inducted as well as the incredible class of 2020!”
Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, known professionally as The Neptunes, are among the most successful producers of all time, co-writing hits for JAY-Z (“I Just Wanna Love U”),” Britney Spears (“I’m a Slave 4 U”), Nelly (“Hot in Herre”), and Justin Timberlake (“Like I Love You”).
Twenty-four acts were in the running for the Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 2020 class, including Outkast, R.E.M., Patti Smith, Journey, Vince Gill, and Gloria Estefan. Only six songwriters are inducted each year. A songwriter qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.
Past inductees into the Songwriters Hall of Fame include JAY-Z, Jermaine Dupri, Justin Timberlake, and Missy Elliott, who became the first female rapper inductee last year.
The 51st Annual Induction and Awards Dinner will take place June 11 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.