George Clinton Headlines 2025 Songwriters Hall Of Fame Class

American Funk and Soul musician and bandleader George Clinton, of the group Parliament-Funkadelic, performs onstage at Central Park SummerStage, New York, New York, June 4, 2019. The performance was the group’s ‘One Nation Under a Groove Farewell Tour.’ (Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images)

Funk legend George Clinton has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In addition to the Parliament Funkadelic founder the Doobie Brothers (Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald, and Patrick Simmons), Ashley Gorley, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Tony Macaulay, and the Beach Boys’ Mike Love. The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, June 12, at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Nile Rodgers, co-founder of Chic and chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, spoke about the 2025 class in a press release.

The foundation of the music industry exists because songwriters compose great songs. Without them, there is no recorded music, no concert business, no fans, or merchandising. It all starts with the song and the songwriter,” Rodger’s statement read. 

“We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important writers of all time. And that this year’s slate represents not just iconic songs, but also diversity and unity across genres and ethnicity. These songwriters have enriched the lives of billions of listeners the world over,” he continued. “It’s our honor to honor them.”

For more than six decades, Clinton has been one of the most innovative musicians. He is regarded as one of the trailblazers of the funk genre. Among his most beloved songs are “Atomic Dog”, “Flash Light * (Not Just) Knee Deep”, “One Nation Under a Groove”, and “Give Up The Funk (Tear the Roof off the Sucker)” just to name a few.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997, alongside 15 other members of Parliament-Funkadelic. In 2019, he and Parliament-Funkadelic received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Established in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) “serves as a vital bridge between music’s past and future.” To qualify for induction, a songwriter must have a notable catalog of songs 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.