Donna Summer received a posthumous induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Tuesday, during a ceremony held in Los Angeles.
“It’s important to me because I know how important it was for Donna,” said Summer’s husband, Bruce Sudano, in a statement about the induction. “With all the accolades that she received over her career, being respected as a songwriter was always the thing that she felt was overlooked. So for her to be accepted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame I know that she’s very happy somewhere.”
Summer began her career in the blues rock group Crow before reinventing her sound alongside producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. Byt the 1970s she had become a dance-floor staple, thanks to disco hits including “Love to Love You Baby,” “I Feel Love,” and “Last Dance,” among others. Summer went on to sell more than 150 million records in her lifetime and earned four No. 1 singles on the Hot 100.
In October, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced the official nominees for its 2026 induction, with Taylor Swift, LL Cool J, and David Byrne topping the performer-songwriter list. The non-performer list featured frequent Summer collaborator Bellotte, among others. The official class will be announced in the new year.
