NEW YORK — In what was both a celebration and a moment of reflection, The Beach Boys’ Mike Love was enshrined in the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday evening. The induction occurred just a day after news broke of the passing of his legendary bandmate, Brian Wilson.
John Stamos, an actor and devoted admirer of The Beach Boys, introduced Love to the gathered audience with warmth and humor. “There are songs that don’t just play on the radio,” Stamos remarked, praising Love’s contributions to music. During his speech, Stamos shared a candid moment when he asked Love which songs he had penned. Love humorously replied, “I only wrote the hits.”
In his acceptance speech, Love expressed deep appreciation, particularly towards “my cousin, Brian Wilson,” referring to him not just as family by blood but also as a brother in music. The evening took on a harmonious note as Stamos joined Love on stage, performing iconic Beach Boys tracks such as “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Kokomo,” and “Good Vibrations.”
The evening was vibrant and full of memorable performances, commencing with Living Colour energizing the crowd with their take on Funkadelic’s “Cosmic Slop,” paying tribute to newly inducted George Clinton. The event, hosted at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City, brought together a wide array of musical styles, celebrating the likes of The Doobie Brothers, Ashley Gorley, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and Tony Macaulay, among others.
George Clinton, in his speech, described the profound honor of the induction, reminiscing about his early days at the iconic Brill Building, likening the experience to an adventure in “Oz.” Clinton then treated the audience to a live performance, singing The Parliaments’ “(I Wanna) Testify.”
Country sensation Garth Brooks paid tribute to The Doobie Brothers with an electrifying performance of “Long Train Runnin’” and “China Grove.” Band members Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons graced the stage, delivering a rendition of “Black Water” that brought their signature rock ‘n’ roll flair to the night.
Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, introduced by Teddy Riley, shared an emotional backstory in his address, recounting how his father borrowed against his life insurance to purchase an MPC3000 sampler for him. “I didn’t grow up chasing fame,” Jerkins said. “I grew up chasing feeling … Creativity has no limitations.” His children continued the musical legacy, performing Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine.”
Other familial performances included country songwriter Ashley Gorley’s daughter, who performed Trace Adkins’ “You’re Gonna Miss This.” Dan + Shay honored Gorley by performing a medley of hits including Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” and Carrie Underwood’s “All-American Girl.” Gorley, in his remarks, described the occasion as a “fever dream” or akin to “crashing a royal wedding.”
Tony Macaulay from England was also celebrated for his songwriting prowess, with Debbie Gibson delivering an exuberant performance of his classic “Build Me Up Buttercup.” Esteemed musical theater composer Stephen Schwartz was honored with the Johnny Mercer Award, while Kristin Chenoweth paid tribute by performing “For Good” from “Wicked.”
Gracie Abrams was recognized with the Hal David Starlight Award for promising talents. The Songwriters Hall of Fame, a tradition since 1969, continues to honor those whose music resonates across generations. Candidates are eligible 20 years after their first commercially released song, joining the ranks of luminaries such as Carole King, Paul Simon, Elton John, and the newly honored Mike Love.