Taylor Swift became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame Thursday night. She was introduced by Steven Spielberg, who praised her ability to connect with listeners through her music.

Swift started her speech by acknowledging Spielberg and expressing her gratitude to her family, who made sacrifices to support her career. She advised young songwriters to prioritize their passions and trust their imagination.

Other Inductees

Other notable inductees included Kiss founders Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, soft rock legend Kenny Loggins, and alt-rock icon Alanis Morissette. The ceremony also honored Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, a game-changing R&B songwriter, producer, and rapper.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor those creating popular music. A songwriter with a notable catalog of songs qualifies for induction 20 years after the first commercial release of a song.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.