© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A new class has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

Performer Gloria Estefan has made history.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ANYTHING FOR YOU")

GLORIA ESTEFAN: (Singing) And I'd do anything for you, in spite of it all.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

She's become the first Latina inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Also just admitted, songwriter and producer Glen Ballard, who co-wrote Alanis Morissette's 1995 album, "Jagged Little Pill."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "YOU OUGHTA KNOW")

ALANIS MORISSETTE: (Singing) And I'm here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away.

FADEL: The list also has ELO's Jeff Lynne, whose credits include "Evil Woman" and "Mr. Blue Sky."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "MR. BLUE SKY")

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA: (Singing) The sun is shining in the sky. There ain't a cloud in sight.

FADEL: And there's Liz Rose, who helped write some of Taylor Swift's best-known songs.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "YOU BELONG WITH ME")

TAYLOR SWIFT: (Singing) When you wake up and find that what you're looking for has been here the whole time. If you could...

MARTÍNEZ: NPR music critic Ann Powers says the Hall of Fame recognizes songwriters who have a knack for transforming words on a page into an experience.

ANN POWERS, BYLINE: Songwriting is not just about words, not just about lyrics, not just about melodies. It really is about creating a whole sound world.

FADEL: And that's especially important now as writers of all kinds face new competition from artificial intelligence. But where some see a threat, Powers sees an opportunity.

POWERS: What AI offers is a chance for human creativity to expand in league with technology. Humans can work with technology and not be eradicated by it.

FADEL: A future of collaboration with AI. Congratulations to the newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "NO DIGGITY")

BLACKSTREET: (Singing) I like the way you work it. No diggity. I got to bag it up. Bag it up. I like the way you work it. No diggity. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.