Gracie Abrams is set to receive the Hal David Starlight Award at the 54th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Dinner slated for Thursday, June 12, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The award, created in 2004, is presented to “gifted young songwriters who are making a significant impact in the music industry with their original songs,” according to the announcement. The award was named after the late Oscar- and Grammy-winning lyricist and SHOF chairman emeritus, best-known for his long, hit-studded collaboration with Burt Bacharach.
Abrams, 25, has received Grammy nominations in each of the year two years. In 2024, she competed for best new artist. This year, she competed for best pop duo/group performance for “Us.” (featuring Taylor Swift, the 2010 recipient of the Hal David Starlight Award).
Abrams’ sophomore album, The Secret of Us, reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. It spawned a top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, “I Love You, I’m Sorry.” The deluxe edition of the album spawned a top 10 hit, “That’s So True.”
Abrams, the daughter of celebrated filmmaker J.J. Abrams, is a Universal Music Publishing Group writer.
The Hal David Starlight Award is meant as a balance to the Johnny Mercer Award, the organization’s top award, which is a career-capping honor. This year’s Mercer recipient has not yet been announced. (This is a reversal from last year, when Diane Warren was announced as the Mercer recipient on Feb. 22, nearly two months before SZA was announced as the Hal David recipient.)
Previously announced 2025 SHOF inductees are George Clinton, Ashley Gorley, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Mike Love, Tony Macaulay and three members of The Doobie Brothers (Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons).
Here’s the complete list of recipients of the Hal David Starlight Award:
- 2004: Rob Thomas (Matchbox Twenty)
- 2005: Alicia Keys
- 2006: John Mayer
- 2007: John Legend
- 2008: John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls)
- 2009: Jason Mraz
- 2010: Taylor Swift
- 2011: Drake
- 2012: Ne-Yo
- 2013: Benny Blanco
- 2014: Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons)
- 2015: Nate Ruess (Fun.)
- 2016: Nick Jonas (Jonas Brothers)
- 2017: Ed Sheeran
- 2018: Sara Bareilles
- 2019: Halsey
- 2022: Lil Nas X
- 2023: Post Malone
- 2024: SZA
- 2025: Gracie Abrams