Heartland rock singer John Mellencamp has been nominated for the 2014 Songwriters Hall of Fame, along with Madonna and Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. Other artists also nominated include Ray Davies, Cyndi Lauper and Linda Perry.

Here’s Mellencamp’s “Small Town”

Mellencamp, sometimes known as John Cougar Mellencamp, was previously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March, 2008. Longtime Rolling Stone contributor Anthony DeCurtis commented on the singer – “Mellencamp has created an important body of work that has earned him both critical regard and an enormous audience. His songs document the joys and struggles of ordinary people seeking to make their way, and he has consistently brought the fresh air of common experience to the typically glamour-addled world of popular music.”

“Hurts So Good”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame gala will be held on June 12 at the New York Marriot Marquis. Additional performing songwriter nominees include Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson, Vince Gill, Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, Donovan, Cat Stevens and Harry Wayne Casey. Nonperforming songwriter nominees include “Midnight Train to Georgia” writer Jim Weatherly, Motown songwriter William “Mickey” Stevenson and country music songwriters Bobby Braddock and Bill Anderson.

“Jack And Diane”

Mark James, the writer behind “Always on My Mind”, which was covered by Elvis Presley and Willie Nelson, is also nominated alongside Don Robertson, Graham Gouldman and Tony Macaulay. Writing duos Hugo and Luigi, Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, and Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham will also compete.

Eligible voters can select two nominees from the list of songwriter-performers and three nonperforming songwriters. Voting ends Dec. 16.

Image via Wikimedia Commons.