Garth Brooks Inducts the Doobie Brothers, George Clinton Brings the Funk, and Mike Love Honors Brian Wilson—”I Do Feel His Presence”–at the 2025 Songwriters Hall of Fame

“I do feel his presence,” said Mike Love of his late cousin and Beach Boys bandmate Brian Wilson, upon accepting his induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) during the annual Induction & Awards Gala at the Marriott Marquis in New York City on June 12. Before taking the stage to perform a medley of Beach Boys classics, which he had a hand in co-writing, Love took a moment to honor Wilson, who died on June 11 at age 82.

“My first cousin by blood but brother in music, we set the stage for some of the most successful music collaborations of all time,” said the 84-year-old Love. He added, “I accept this honor with full gratitude, love, and peace, and pray that through music, art, and kindness, the world heals and love prevails.”

Love was inducted by actor, musician, and longtime Beach Boys fan and collaborator John Stamos, who went on to perform the Beach Boys’ 1965 classic “California Girls.” Stamos moved from guitar to behind the drums for the remainder of the set, running through the group’s “I Get Around,” 1988 hit, “Kokomo,” and “Good Vibrations.”

Opening the SHOF ceremony, Living Color honored 2025 inductee, Parliament and Funkadelic mastermind George Clinton, with Funkadelic’s 1973 song “Cosmic Slop.”

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Topped in a captain’s hat and dressed in a golden-beige pinstriped suit, Sly and the Family Stone T-Shirt, in tribute to his friend Sly Stone who died just three days earlier, Clinton, 83, talked about songwriting and the magic of the old Brill Building in New York City, where writers like Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, churned out hits, describing it as going “into Oz.”

“This one hits different, this comes from people who truly know what it means to be a songwriter,” said Clinton, before performing the Parliaments’ “(I Wanna) Testify.”

Throughout the night, Non-Performing Songwriting inductees Ashley Gorley, Tony Macaulay, and Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins also received their respective honors. For Jerkins and Gorley, their inductions were more of a family affair, with their children performing some of their hits.

Dan + Shay played less than a handful of Gorley’s 83 No. 1 hits—Luke Bryan’s “Play it Again,” Carrie Underwood’s “All-American Girl,” Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night,” and Wallen’s “I Had Some Help”—before Gorley, who was visibly emotional, thanked God and his family, calling his induction a “fever dream,” and added, “I feel like I crashed a royal wedding being in this room.”

“The reason I keep writing songs isn’t to win awards or have more hits,” said Gorley, who added that it’s more about the co-writing and coming up with melodies and ideas. “And every now and then,” said Gorley, “you come up with a song special enough.”

[RELATED: R.E.M. Performs for First Time in 17 Years at the 2024 Songwriters Hall of Fame]

Prior to his speech, his daughter Sadie Gorley shared a few words about her dad before performing Trace Adkins’ 2008 No. 1 country hit, “You’re Gonna Miss This,” which her father co-wrote with Lee Thomas Miller.

Jerkins, who was inducted by producer and 2023 SHOF inductee Teddy Riley, recalled writing poems for his mother at 12, his father taking $1,200 from his life insurance policy to buy him his first piece of equipment, an MPC3000 sampler, which was significant in helping him in his musical journey, and being turned down by Clive Davis numerous times.

“The greatest way to become successful is to get turned down,” said Jerkins. “I didn’t grow up chasing fame. I grew up chasing truth, and it’s taken me farther.”

After his speech, Jerkins introduced his four children, singers R.J. and Heavenly, along with Hannah Joy on violin, 10-year-old son Royal on cello, for a performance of one of his biggest hits, the 1998 Brandy and Monica duet “The Boy Is Mine.”

Theater composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who received the Johnny Mercer Award, was also honored with a performance by Kristin Chenoweth, and Mary Kate Morrissey sang a duet of his Wicked song “For Good.” Schwartz also took the stage for a song he wrote in Denmark around the 200th anniversary of playwright and author Hans Christian Andersen, “Can You Imagine That?”

“It’s about a writer and what it means to be a writer in an extraordinary room of writers,” said Schwartz.

British songwriter and composer Tony Macaulay, who has written songs recorded by everyone from Elvis Presley, Cher, Glen Campbell, The Hollies, Gladys Knight, Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, and dozens of other artists, was honored with a medley performed by SHOF scholarship recipients  MŌRIAH, Sam Opoku, and Daphne Browdy. Debbie Gibson also shared a lively rendition of one of Macaulay’s most famous hits, the Foundations’ “Build Me Up Buttercup” from 1968.

The National’s Aaron Dessner also presented Gracie Abrams with the Hal David Starlight Award, which honors young original songwriters making an impact in the music industry. Dessner produced Abrams’ 2023 debut Good Riddance, and co-produced the follow-up in 2024, The Secret of Us.

“Like many of you, I started writing to make sense of my feelings in the world,” said Abrams. Between “poring over” liner notes and lyrics of favorite artists, Abrams said it was Joni Mitchell’s 1971 classic, Blue, that informed her the most as a songwriter.

“The truth is, I love songwriters,” said Abrams, who later performed her song “Free Now,” which she co-wrote with Dessner. “And I’ll never stop pinching myself that anyone, let alone the Songwriters Hall of Fame, considers me one.” 

By the end of the evening, Garth Brooks made a surprise appearance and jumped into the Doobie Brothers classic “Long Train Runnin’” and “China Grove” before inducting the band’s Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and Michael McDonald.

“We can talk about how great they were decades ago, but trust me, more people are listening to the Doobie Brothers today than they ever have,” said Brooks. “It’s feel-good music, undeniable Doobies, some of the greatest songwriting ever.”

After their speeches, the Doobie Brothers performed some of their hits, with Simmons leading “Black Water” and the audience participation on the Old black water, keep on rolling / Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shining on me. McDonald also ushered in the band’s 1976 hit “Takin’ It to the Streets” before they finished off the Johnston-led “Listen to the Music” and a heavier crowd sing-along during the chorus.

In June 2025, the band released their sixteenth album, Walk This Road, and first in 40 years with McDonald, who gave a shout-out to fellow inductees Schwartz and Jerkins, who also called the Doobie Brothers member out earlier in the evening.

“If I could send a message to all the writers in this room, I’d say ‘Thank you for the inspiration,’” said McDonald. “We’ve learned from you, we’ve imitated you our whole lives. We’re honored to be among you.”

The 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony will take place next June, with a date to be announced.

Main Photo: Lawrence Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame