PETTY, COSTELLO, JONAS HONORED AT SONGWRITERS FETE

James Corden made a pre-Tony Awards appearance to award Nick Jonas the 47th annual Songwriters Hall of Fame induction and awards dinner. Meanwhile, Marcus Mumford saluted Elvis Costello, Roger McGuinn honored Tom Petty and Seymour Stein received a special award. Jonas, seen here with UMPG's SHOF President/CEO Linda Moran and UMPG's Evan Lamberg, had the most sculpted abs of any tunesmith in attendance, though Costello's rippling six-pack was a surprise to many.

James Corden handed Jonas the award presented to young songwriters making a significant impact in the music industry. After giving a shout-out to the UMPG execs who signed him, notably David Gray, Jonas performed his hit “Jealous.”

Mumford kicked off the dinner with a powerful performance of Costello’s “Pump It Up” before inducting the man he called his “hero.”

Costello, Marvin Gaye, Tom Petty, Nile Rodgers and the late Bernard Edwards and Chip Taylor were inducted into the hall in ceremonies at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York. Lionel Richie received the Johnny Mercer Award; Nick Jonas was presented the Hal David Starlight Award; and Sire Records founder Seymour Stein was honored with the Howie Richmond Hitmaker Award.

Jussie Smolett performed Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” his widow Jan noting in her acceptance speech “his messages, whether they be social, political, sexual, are still relevant today.” Roger McGuinn inducted Petty, performing his “American Girl” before Petty sang a new Mudcrutch song, “I Forgive It All,” and “Angel Dream (No. 2)” from the film She’s the One. Rachel Platten performed Taylor’s “Angel Of The Morning”; Taylor and his three granddaughters delivered a family performance of his “Wild Thing.”

Jennifer Hudson honored Richie with “Still” before the songwriter did a solo rendition of “Hello”; The B-52s saluted Stein with “Love Shack”; and Sister Sledge sang “We Are Family” for Rodgers, who earlier led the band on “Le Freak,” and Edwards.

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