Lil Nas X Is Being Honored by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Here's How

Lil Nas X is just continuing to win.

News broke Thursday that the Grammy-award winner will be recognized at the 51st Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala in June, the first time the event has been held since the pandemic put everything on halt in early 2020.

“Lil Nas X is someone we are very proud to award the Hal David Starlight Award to,” SHOF chair Nile Rodgers told Variety. “He has perhaps better than anyone demonstrated how powerful great songs are, with ‘Old Town Road’ and ‘Montero’ dominating the charts for almost every day of the last three years.

“If you’re lucky enough to be alive at this time, you know exactly who Lil Nas X is and he’s an incredible and inspirational person for every one of his communities as well.”

The Hal David Starlight Award, according to the Songwriters Hall of Fame website, “was established to honor gifted songwriters who are at an apex in their careers and are making a significant impact in the music industry via their original songs.”

Halsey was the last person to receive the award in 2019, and previous honorees have included Sara Bareilles (2018), Taylor Swift (2010), Drake (2011), and Alicia Keys (2005).

Lil Nas will be the only hip-hop artist besides Drake to receive the award since the SHOF first began giving it out in 2004, and, along with Nick Jonas, will be the second youngest person to receive it, after Taylor Swift.

Although Lil Nas notably missed out on winning any of the Grammys he was nominated for this year, he’s noted that the loss has only made him want to “go even harder,” and has already been teasing his next album.

The SHOF gala will take place on June 16 in New York.