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New York — Missy Elliott is making history as the first female rapper inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The 2019 class also includes legendary British singer Cat Stevens and country-folk icon John Prine.
The organisation announced the new group of inductees on Saturday.
Other inductees include Tom T. Hall, who Johnny Cash called his "all-time favourite songwriter"; Jack Tempchin, who co-wrote songs for the Eagles and Glenn Frey's solo albums; and Dallas Austin, the songwriter behind radio hits for TLC, Monica, Pink, Boyz II Men, Madonna and more.
Missy is just the third rapper to enter into the Songwriters Hall, following Jay-Z and Jermaine Dupri's inductions in 2017 and 2018, respectively. While she's written her own raps, the talented artist has also lent her writing skills to everyone from Beyoncé to Whitney Houston to the late icon Aaliyah.
HERE'S ONE OF HER MOST POPULAR SONGS, TITLED WORK IT:
The new class of songwriters will officially be inducted on 13 June at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Songwriters are eligible for induction after writing hit songs for at least 20 years.
Stevens, who also goes by Yusuf (the name he took when he converted), has been a respected writer since releasing his debut in 1967. He's had a string of Top 40 hits, from Peace Train to Morning Has Broken as well as The First Cut Is the Deepest, which he wrote five decades ago.
Prine's inclusion is extra-special since he was nominated for this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but didn't make the cut. The 72-year-old has become an affable songwriting guru for many of Nashville's talented young artists, including rocker Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys, country rebel Sturgill Simpson, and the married Americana darlings Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires.
