Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees

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Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees

Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Seger and Jim Steinman – who wrote the songs on Meatloaf’s “Bat Out of Hell” album – were among the tunesmiths inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on Thursday at a ceremony in New York.

Converging opinions thrived at the 43rd annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in New York where Bob Seger was inducted as one of the latest members of the prestigious club.

Guitarist Steve Miller (left) helps to induct singer Gordon Lightfoot, known for such hits as "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," "Sundown," and "If You Could Read My Mind."

"This thing has been going on for 43 years, and this is the first time I was ever invited?" Bette Midler joked as she accepted the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.

Meat Loaf and Constantine Maroulis perform. Meat Loaf sang the praises of collaborator, Jim Steinman, before he was inducted into the hall. Steinman wrote all the words and music to "Bat Out of Hell" and "Bat Out of Hell 2."

After Loaf and Constantine Maroulis performed an abridged version of the nearly 10-minute title track, inductee Jim Steinman noted: "They shortened the song so much I felt like I was watching an episode of 'Glee.' "

Inductee Don Schlitz (right) was introduced by Kenny Rogers, who made Schlitz's "The Gambler" a smash hit in 1978.

Kenny Rogers said of Schlitz. "He doesn't write songs. He writes careers."

Among the night's highlights was singer Stevie Nicks's rendition of "The Rose."

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Converging opinions thrived at the 43rd annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in New York where Bob Seger was inducted as one of the latest members of the prestigious club.

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