John Fogerty reacts to receiving top honour from Songwriters Hall of Fame: “This is just astounding to me”
John Fogerty is set to be celebrated with the most prestigious prize that the Songwriters Hall of Fame has to offer.
On June 11th, at the ceremony, which is scheduled to take place in New York City at the Marriott Marquis Hotel, Fogerty will be honoured with the Johnny Mercer Award.
Notable previous winners of the Johnny Mercer Award include Frank Sinatra, who received the inaugural prize in 1980, as well as Billy Joel, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Phil Collins, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Lionel Ritchie, Neil Diamond and Dianne Warren.
Now, the former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman, who was previously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1993 as a part of the aforementioned band, is set to add his name to the star-studded list.
In a social media video, Fogerty reacted to the induction, gleefully sharing, “This is just astounding to me, I’m so happy about this. After struggling my whole life to try and get my songs back from the early days, I finally did just a couple years ago.”
Fogerty emotionally continued, “My songs are very personal to me, it really means a lot to get them back, own them, and now to be honoured by receiving a very high honour about my songwriting. It’s just the coolest thing. I’ve admired great songs and great songwriters my whole life, and this will be something that I really cherish.”
Meanwhile, Songwriters Hall of Fame chairman Nile Rodgers said in a statement, “The first time I heard Creedence Clearwater Revival, I was a mere highschooler. It was also the first time I heard John Fogerty’s voice, one of the most distinctive ever. To this day I’ve never heard anyone else sound like him.”
Heaping further praise on Fogerty, the Chic hitmaker added, His unique songwriting ability is another quality. He’s one of those rare talents who is unmistakably himself. His style of composition is rock and roll mastery. It’s what I’ve always personally believed in, something I call ‘The art of complex simplicity.’”
Rodgers concluded, “He’s done what I believe all great songwriters do. He makes us feel. He deserves this award as much as anyone who’s ever received it, or will receive it, in the future. I send my congratulations to John Fogerty.”
The landmark induction at the 2026 ceremony is Taylor Swift, who, aged only 36, will become the youngest artist in history to be recognised by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
For an artist to be eligible for induction, they must have been 20 years since their first recording was commercially released. Swift released her first single in 2006, which makes 2026 the first time she has been eligible to be on the ballot.
She will be inducted alongside Kiss’ Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, producer/songwriter Christopher ‘Tricky’ Stewart, Alanis Morissette, songwriting duo Terry Britten and Graham Lyle, Kenny Loggins and producer-songwriter Walter Afanasieff.
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