Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Inducts Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane, & More At Star-Studded Massey Hall Gala

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) celebrated its 2024 class of inductees with a gala evening at Toronto’s famed Massey Hall on Saturday night (Sept. 28), presented by Amazon Music. Taking centrestage as new honorees were Blue Rodeo songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, Tom Cochrane, Sarah McLachlan and Diane Tell.

Their achievements as eloquent and best-selling songwriters were celebrated with moving tributes and compelling special performances from an impressive list of fellow Canadian stars, plus a notable American singer as well.

Tom Cochrane launched the show, joined by his longtime guitarist Bill Bell for the political anthem “Lunatic Fringe.” Cochrane’s solo work and some classic material from his band Red Rider were later feted with tribute performances from Brett Emmons of The Glorious Sons (“Big League") and Sam Roberts ("White Hot”). After being inducted by Triumph’s Gil Moore, Cochrane praised his loyal fans. “I wrote them, produced them with my friends and radio got them out to you in one permutation or another, but I realize, make no mistake about it, that you breathe life into these songs. Without you, they don’t exist," he stressed.

To honour the now classic tunes of Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, country stars Tim Hicks and Tenille Townes performed “Til I Am Myself Again;” roots-rockers Adam Baldwin, Terra Lightfoot and Matt Mays jointly covered “Hasn’t Hit Me Yet," soulful Toronto singer AHI reprised “Try" and Whitehorse and Sarah McLachlan teamed up on “Dark Angel,” a fitting choice since McLachlan guested on the original Blue Rodeo version. Cuddy and Keelor took the stage to perform the anthemic “Lost Together,” alongside several of the night’s guests, and Keelor told the audience “It’s a humbling honour to gather here with so many friends and colleagues to celebrate these songs. With a grateful heart I say thank you all very much.”

McLachlan was serenaded by Metric's Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw's version of “I Will Remember You,” (first debuted on the Netflix series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off), Whitehorse's take on “Sweet Surrender" and Lights' version of “Building A Mystery." Then, she joined Nelly Furtado in a surprise duet performance of "Angel."

Sarah McLachlan joined Billboard Canada on the red carpet to talk about some of her biggest influences as a songwriter, from Simon & Garfunkel to Kate Bush:

Furtado also ushered McLachlan into the Hall, with the latter thanking all her fans: "Their love is truly the best validation as an artist.” Nelly Furtado had a big weekend of her own, playing a live stream City Sessions performance for Amazon Music.

Considered one of Quebec’s pioneering singer-songwriters, Diane Tell was celebrated by some leading French-language artists, including Rafaëlle Roy, Ariane Roy, La Zarra and Dominique Fils-Aimé, who was joined by Tell for a performance of “Gilberto.” Inducted by Pierre Brassard, Tell declared that “I owe this honour to the great musicians, artists and collaborators and, most of all, to my faithful audience. I provide the words and melodies, but it is you, the audience, who provides the magic.”

Rounding out the festivities in reportedly rousing fashion was a massed version of Cochrane’s international smash hit, “Life Is A Highway,” led by Rascal Flatts frontman Gary LeVox.

The 2024 inductees will be honoured at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame’s permanent location at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Calgary.

Stay tuned to @billboardca on Instagram for more from the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame red carpet.