The Songwriters Hall of Fame will honor Stephen Schwartz with the 2025 Johnny Mercer Award at its Induction and Awards Gala on June 12, 2025, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
The Johnny Mercer Award is the highest recognition given by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. It is awarded to a songwriter or songwriting team previously inducted into the Hall of Fame, whose work has made a lasting impact on the music industry and continues to uphold the high standards set by legendary songwriter Johnny Mercer. Schwartz, known for his work on musicals such as Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin, was first inducted into the Hall in 2009.
Nile Rodgers, Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, praised Schwartz’s ability to craft memorable musicals. “With every lyric and melody, Stephen invites us on an unforgettable journey,” said Rodgers. “From Godspell to Wicked and Pippin, Stephen proves time and again that he is the master at turning a simple story into a Broadway masterpiece, one catchy chorus at a time.”
Past recipients of the Johnny Mercer Award include music legends like Diane Warren (2024), Tim Rice (2023), and Paul Williams (2022), among others.
In addition to his Broadway work, Schwartz’s musicals include The Magic Show, The Baker’s Wife, Working, Rags, Children of Eden, and the upcoming The Queen of Versailles, which will debut on Broadway this fall, starring Kristin Chenoweth. He has also written songs for Disney films such as Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted, as well as DreamWorks’ The Prince of Egypt. Schwartz is currently working on Wicked: Part Two, set to be released in theaters later this year.
Schwartz’s extensive career also includes classical works, such as his collaboration with Leonard Bernstein on Mass and his opera Seance on a Wet Afternoon. He has released two singer-songwriter albums: Reluctant Pilgrim and Uncharted Territory.
Some of his most iconic songs include Day by Day, Corner of the Sky, Colors of the Wind, When You Believe, Popular, and Defying Gravity. Schwartz’s career achievements include three Academy Awards, four Grammy Awards, and a Tony Award.
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