Overview

• Mike Love was inducted the day after Brian Wilson’s death was announced and thanked his late cousin by saying he could feel his presence.
• Living Colour opened the ceremony with a cover of Funkadelic’s "Cosmic Slop" to honor inductee George Clinton, who later performed "(I Wanna) Testify."
• Garth Brooks inducted The Doobie Brothers’ Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons into the Hall of Fame.
• Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Ashley Gorley and Tony Macaulay joined the inductee roster, representing R&B, country and pop songwriting.
• Stephen Schwartz received the Johnny Mercer Award and Gracie Abrams was honored with the Hal David Starlight Award for emerging songwriters.