Walter Afanasieff, Graham Lyle & Terry Britten and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart also tell the tales behind their Hot 100 smashes.
Raye at the Billboard Indie Power Players 2026 held at The Cutting Room NYC on June 09, 2026 in New York, New York.
Anna Downs/Billboard
Beyoncé’s four-week Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” may have literally missed a beat if not for some singular studio magic. KISS’ iconic anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite” came to life in a hotel room after a motivating mandate from the band’s label. “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” the song that revitalized Tina Turner’s career, originated from its writers’ love of Bob Marley.
John Fogerty’s mother introduced him to songwriting when he was just three years old, through the 19th century song “Camptown Races.” As the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) bestows on him the Johnny Mercer Award, its highest honor, he reflects on “Proud Mary,” the song that set the bar for all Creedence Clearwater Revival and solo hits to come. Billboard cover star RAYE, recipient of this year’s Hal David Starlight Award, which goes to a gifted young songwriter making a significant impact, attributes the juxtaposition of sincere and sassy vibes on her hit “Where Is My Husband!” to her innate “British-ness.”
