Taylor Swift has made history as the youngest woman to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The 36-year-old pop star has had an impressive run in recent years. In October, she broke her own sales record with her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl.

She is one of nine songwriters selected for the 2026 class. Others being honoured include Alanis Morissette and Walter Afanasieff, who is well known for working with Mariah Carey.

Taylor Swift will officially be inducted at a private ceremony in New York later this year.

Founded in 1969, the Songwriters Hall of Fame recognises songwriters “whose work represents a spectrum of the most beloved songs from the world’s popular music songbook”.

Each year, only a small number of artists are selected, with fewer than 500 people inducted over the past 50 years.

Announcing the 2026 inductees, chairman and Chic lead singer Nile Rodgers said the new group “not only showcases iconic songs but also celebrates unity across various genres”.

“These songwriters have profoundly impacted the lives of billions of listeners worldwide, and it is our privilege to honour their contributions,” he added.

Also named in the 2026 class is Christopher “Tricky” Stewart, known for producing Beyoncé’s Single Ladies and Break My Soul, as well as Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of rock band Kiss.

Other inductees include Footloose singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins, Terry Britten, and Graham Lyle, who co-wrote Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got To Do With It.

Taylor Swift, pictured performing on stage with a black guitar and dressed in a red sparkly outfit, is one of the honourees. The pop star previously made history as the first artist to win the Album of the Year Grammy four times.

She is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, rising to global fame with 12 studio albums and four re-recorded “Taylor’s Versions” albums.

Last year, Swift announced she had regained ownership of the rights to her first six albums, bringing an end to a long and highly publicised dispute over her music.

Her latest album recorded the biggest opening week in the UK in 2025, selling 304,000 copies within just three days.

Over the years, she has received numerous awards, including becoming the first performer to win the Album of the Year Grammy four times.

Taylor Swift has officially overtaken Rihanna to become the wealthiest female musician globally, with her net worth now estimated at a staggering $1.6 billion.

This milestone was confirmed on Saturday, October 5th, following an update by Forbes, which reflects the immense success of Swift’s “Eras Tour” and the continued popularity of her music catalog.

By surpassing Rihanna’s $1.4 billion net worth, Swift now holds the top spot among female musicians and is ranked second among all musicians worldwide. The only artist with a higher valuation is Jay-Z, with a net worth of $2.5 billion.

What sets Swift apart is that she’s the first musician to amass a billion-dollar fortune almost entirely from her music and tours, unlike other artists whose wealth largely comes from external business ventures.

This achievement underscores her dominance in the music industry and the enduring appeal of her body of work.

A year after hitting the billionaire milestone, Forbes now estimates that Taylor Swift’s assets break down into $600 million from touring and royalties, another $600 million from her music catalog, and $125 million from real estate investments.

Swift has long been a prominent figure on wealthiest musician lists, but her financial growth over recent years has been remarkable. Back in 2020, her fortune was estimated at $365 million, meaning she’s accumulated more than $1.2 billion in just the past four years.

While Swift now holds the title of the richest female musician, Rihanna retains her standing as the “Richest Female Musician of All Time,” with a peak net worth once estimated at $1.77 billion.

However, Swift may surpass even that, especially after concluding her highly successful “Eras Tour,” which will wrap up with its final dates in the U.S. and Canada later this year.

Additionally, Swift recently made headlines for endorsing Kamala Harris for president, a move that drew criticism from Donald Trump, who warned she would “pay a price” for her political stance.