Albums and songs from Taylor Swift, Beyonc\u00e9, Chaka Khan and The Go-Go\u2019s are joining America\u2019s audio canon. <\/p>\n
The new inductees into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress include Swift\u2019s blockbuster 2014 pop album \u201c1989,\u201d Beyonc\u00e9\u2019s era-defining 2008 anthem \u201cSingle Ladies (Put a Ring on It),\u201d Khan\u2019s genre-blending hit \u201cI Feel for You,\u201d Vince Gill\u2019s emotional ballad \u201cGo Rest High on That Mountain\u201d and The Go-Go\u2019s groundbreaking debut album \u201cBeauty and the Beat.\u201d <\/p>\n
They were among the 25 recordings entering the archive in the class of 2026, acting Librarian of Congress Robert Newlen announced Thursday. The selections were chosen for their \u201ccultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation\u2019s recorded sound heritage\u201d, The Associated Press said. <\/p>\n
\u201cMusic and recorded sound are essential, wonderful parts of our daily lives and our national heritage,\u201d Newlen said in a statement. \u201cThe National Recording Registry works to preserve our national playlist for generations to come.\u201d <\/p>\n
Other recordings entering the registry include Ray Charles\u2019 groundbreaking country crossover album \u201cModern Sounds in Country and Western Music,\u201d Reba McEntire\u2019s \u201cRumor Has It,\u201d Rosanne Cash\u2019s \u201cThe Wheel\u201d and Weezer\u2019s self-titled debut known as \u201cThe Blue Album.\u201d <\/p>\n
Classic singles from Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Byrds, Jos\u00e9 Feliciano and Paul Anka also earned inclusion. <\/p>\n
Among the more unconventional selections are the soundtrack to the influential 1993 video game “Doom” and the radio broadcast of \u201cThe Fight of the Century,\u201d the legendary 1971 heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. <\/p>\n
The oldest recording in this year\u2019s class is Spike Jones and His City Slickers\u2019 1944 single \u201cCocktails for Two.\u201d The newest is Swift\u2019s \u201c1989.\u201d <\/p>\n
This year also marks the first recordings by Swift and Beyonc\u00e9 selected for the registry. The Library of Congress said more than 3,000 public nominations were submitted for consideration this year. <\/p><\/p>\n