Lil Nas X To Be Honored At 2022 Songwriters Hall of Fame Ceremony

Lil Nas X will be honored at the 51st annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala next month with the Hal David Starlight Award, which recognizes “gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.”

Per Variety, Lil Nas X, real name Montero Lamar Hill, will join previous honorees Drake, Taylor Swift, Halsey, Sara Bareilles, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Benny Blanco, John Mayer and others. The award, created in 2004, was named in honor of SHOF chairman emeritus Hal David for his support of young songwriters.

The ceremony, the first since 2019, is slated to take place on Thursday, June 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. SHOF chair Nile Rodgers commented, “Lil Nas X is someone we are very proud to award the Hal David Starlight Award to. He has perhaps better than anyone demonstrated how powerful great songs are, with ‘Old Town Road’ and ‘Montero’ dominating the charts for almost every day of the last three years. If you’re lucky enough to be alive at this time, you know exactly who Lil Nas X is and he’s an incredible and inspirational person for every one of his communities as well.”

Lil Nas X's first hit single, “Old Town Road,” famously was recorded for $50 in a small Atlanta studio and has become the longest-running No. 1 hit in Billboard Hot 100 history. Lil Nas X has since morphed his music and fame from the country-hip-hop of his 2019 debut into R&B, rock and other genres while using his music videos and social media platforms to become the most outspoken LGBTQ rapper in history.

Inductees at this year’s SHOF event include Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart of Eurythmics, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O’Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley & Chris Jasper of The Isley Brothers, Steve Miller, Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, Rick Nowels and William “Mickey” Stevenson.