Greatest living American songwriters – Building the list

The New York Times recently released a list of the 30 best American songwriters currently working. Shortly after, similar to how the Founding Fathers quickly followed the Constitution with the Bill of Rights, a Times writer added to the original list. Lindsay Zoladz published 11 more songwriters to consider, just one day after the first list appeared.

I definitely believe in the value of addendums – I write them often! Whenever I see a list like this one, I always feel compelled to share my thoughts. And when I create my own lists, I always get feedback – usually pointing out where I made mistakes.

I won’t claim the Times or Mr. Zoladz made any mistakes. I simply agree with his point that making a list like this is nearly impossible.

But it’s fun to talk about.

Another dozen songwriters for the New York Times’ list

The original Times list is excellent and clearly involved a lot of research. They consulted many music experts and historians to essentially create a modern update to the classic American songbook, highlighting the artists who are shaping it today.

This collection includes both established icons and rising stars. It’s great to see such a wide range of musical styles represented, recognizing hip hop’s important place in American music history – something that’s often missed in similar rankings.

The list included legendary artists like Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Dolly Parton, Carole King, Willie Nelson, and Smokey Robinson. And naturally, Bob Dylan was among them.

The lineup also included major artists like Jay-Z, Young Thug, Missy Elliott, Kendrick Lamar, Babyface, Taylor Swift, and Bad Bunny. There were many more incredible performers – you can find a complete list here.

Zoladz finished her list by including artists like Randy Newman, Tom Waits, and Paul Westerberg, bringing her total to eleven. I’ll follow suit and do the same.

Okay, so I realized this list is specifically about American songwriters who are still with us. I totally jumped to the conclusion it was just anyone writing songs in English, which is why I was immediately wondering where people like Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell were. And then I was thinking, ‘Hey, what about Chris Hannah?’ Turns out he’s Canadian, so that explains that!

I believe I still have twelve good ideas to share, and I’ll present them in a random order.

James McMurtry

When compiling a collection of classic American songs, James McMurtry deserves a prominent place. Like his father, Larry McMurtry—a celebrated 20th-century novelist—James is a gifted storyteller, but he expresses his talent through music instead of writing.

Zoladz illustrated each of her choices with a relevant song, and I’ll follow suit. If you’re interested in McMurtry, I recommend listening to “Sons of the Second Sons,” which is a wonderful look at American culture.

Annie Clark

Annie Clark, known as St. Vincent, is one of the most talented rock musicians of the past ten years. She’s constantly evolving her sound, moving from dreamy pop-rock in her earlier work to a more forceful and edgy style now.

Must-listen: “Broken Man”

Doechii

It’s perhaps a bit premature to include Doechii on this list, considering she’s only 27 and hasn’t released many albums yet. However, she’s already released enough music to prove she’s a significant new artist in hip hop, and she has the potential to stay that way for years to come.

Must-listen: “Denial is a River”

MJ Lenderman

I’m confident in recommending Lenderman, another talented 27-year-old artist. He’s incredibly prolific, having written a huge number of songs, and the quality is consistently high. He’s versatile too, equally comfortable with hard rock and folk music – I believe he could write great songs in any style.

Must-listen: “Wristwatch”

Patti Smith

I’m surprised Patti Smith wasn’t included on the original or updated lists. Perhaps people assume she’s not a strong songwriter because two of her popular songs, “Gloria” and “Because the Night,” are credited to other artists. But that’s incorrect. She actually completed “Because the Night” for Bruce Springsteen and has written or co-written many other well-known songs.

Must-listen: “Dancing Barefoot”

Blake Schwarzenbach

Blake Schwarzenbach, the singer for Jawbreaker, was a key figure in blending punk rock with more thoughtful and personal songwriting, paving the way for the emo and pop punk genres of the 1990s.

Must-listen: “Chesterfield King”

Victoria Monét

Monét spent fifteen years writing songs for top artists before finally releasing her own debut album in 2023, which earned her a Grammy for Best New Artist. While she’s famous for her work with Ariana Grande, she’s collaborated with many of today’s biggest pop stars.

Must-listen: “Dive”

Steve Earle

Earle carries on the legacy of classic American songwriters like Woody Guthrie and Hank Williams. His 1997 album, El Corazon, begins by wishing for Guthrie’s return and ends with a touching homage to Townes Van Zandt. He explores distinctly American themes in his songs more thoroughly than any other songwriter I’ve encountered.

Must-listen: “It’s About Blood”

Lin-Manuel Miranda

I was so excited to see Diane Warren on the list – she’s a legend when it comes to movie music! It really makes me think Miranda should be included too. Even just with Hamilton, he’d deserve a place, but honestly, he’s done so much more amazing work beyond that show. It feels like it’s time to recognize everything he’s accomplished.

Must-listen: “My Shot”

Iris Dement

Just like Steve Earle, Iris DeMent is incredibly skilled at blending personal experiences with political themes in her music. She approaches both with a refreshing honesty that reveals the many layers within country music.

Must-listen: “Sweet is the Melody”

billy woods

Woods (often stylized as woods) is a truly captivating hip hop artist. He pushes boundaries with his lyrics and music, all while staying true to the core elements that make hip hop so powerful. His album, Maps, is a standout and one of the most creative hip hop releases of the 2020s.

Must-listen: “Soundcheck”

Neil Young

Zoladz initially planned to feature ten artists, but decided to include an eleventh. I also began with eleven, and now need to add Young, who, as far as I know, hasn’t given up his American citizenship. I’m worried he might return to his home country, Canada, at any time.

Must-listen: “After the Gold Rush”

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2026-04-29 19:01