k.d. lang, TOM COCHRANE, ED ROBERTSON AND CHANTAL KREVIAZUK ANNOUNCED FOR CANADIAN SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME’S LEGENDS IN TORONTO

Tara Slone hosts an unforgettable night celebrating the 2025 inductees with tributes by Kevin Drew, Murray McLauchlan, JJ Wilde, RÊVE and Canada’s next generation of songwriters

For Immediate Release – TORONTO, ON – Tuesday, September 23, 2025 – Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) today announced the lineup of performers and special guests confirmed for its 2025 Legends Induction event in Toronto, presented by RBC, on October 17 at the Meridian Arts Centre. It promises to be a highly anticipated evening filled with emotional tributes and iconic songs, celebrating the artistry and enduring legacy of this year’s inductees. 

Hosted by broadcaster and musician Tara Slone, the evening will showcase some of Canada’s most celebrated songwriters and performers — k.d. lang, Tom Cochrane, Chantal Kreviazuk, Murray McLauchlan, Ed Robertson, and Kevin Drew — alongside a cross-section of emerging and established voices including Charlie Edward, Clerel, Housewife, JJ Wilde, Kairo McLean, Kirk Diamond, Noah Derksen, RÊVE, Sam Drysdale. The program will also feature a special performance by Phil X with inductee Rik Emmett.  

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s Legends Induction Series has established itself as a signature celebration, honouring the songwriters whose work has shaped Canada’s cultural legacy. This year, Toronto will pay tribute to Andy Kim, creator of timeless pop hits like Sugar, Sugar and Rock Me Gently; Jane Siberry, acclaimed for her poetic and boundary-pushing songwriting; Ian Thomas, celebrated for classics like Painted Ladies; Triumph, powered by the songwriting of Rik Emmett, Gil Moore, and Mike Levine, gave us arena rock classics like Lay It on the Line and Fight the Good Fight; and Gino Vannelli, the internationally renowned songwriter behind such hits as Living Inside Myself, Wild Horses and Black Cars. 

In addition to honouring legendary contributions, the Toronto event will also spotlight the next generation through the presentation of the Breakthrough Songwriter Award, presented by the SOCAN Foundation with support from Amazon Music. This year’s recipient, Nemahsis, in the non-francophone category, will be recognized for her powerful songwriting and her remarkable upward trajectory. 

“The Legends Induction Series is more than a ceremony — it’s a living bridge between eras of Canadian music,” said Nick Fedor, Executive Director of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. “By celebrating both trailblazers and breakthrough songwriters, we ensure Canada’s songwriting legacy thrives for generations to come.” 

Following the Induction Ceremony, the Class of 2025 will be permanently celebrated at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s home at Studio Bell, National Music Centre in Calgary, with artifacts and memorabilia honouring their contributions to Canadian music history. 

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s 2025 Legends Induction Series will take place on October 17 at Toronto’s Meridian Arts Centre and on November 17 at Montréal’s Espace St-Denis.  The Montreal event will spotlight francophone and Indigenous voices, honouring François Cousineau, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Michel Pagliaro, and Florent Vollant.  Tickets for the Toronto event are available via Ticketmaster HERE, and tickets for the Montréal event are available through Espace St-Denis HERE. 

With special thanks to our sponsors and partners: RBC, SOCAN, Hargraft Insurance, CMRRA, Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, Anthem Music Group, the Songwriters Association of Canada, the Lewitt Family Foundation, the Slaight Family Foundation, and e=mc² Productions for their invaluable support in helping us celebrate and champion Canadian songwriters through these meaningful programs and events.