"If you don't have a great song," producer Tony Brown says, "you don't have sh*t."
Charlie Handsome and Jessie Jo Dillon are also among the honorees.
Most of the honorees have hailed from Britain, though the roster also includes two Americans and a Frenchman.
"Birth, marriage, death — it's precisely that," says songwriter Bobby Braddock.
This is the first SHOF class to include no women since 2017.
This week's Makin' Tracks highlights the writing and recording behind Luke Bryan's "Country Song Came On."
Akins is a two-time BMI songwriter of the year winner, and an eight-time CMA triple play award winner.
For only the third time in its 54-year history, the NSHF welcomed two women together. "Someday we won’t have to point that out, but it’s still nice," said Victoria Shaw.
Of the 26 songwriters or songwriting teams on the ballot, only six will be inducted.
He's won an Oscar, two Golden Globes and many other accolades.
