The 2026 National Recording Registry inductees were announced today, bringing everything from Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It),” Weezer’s self-titled debut “Weezer (The Blue Album),” José Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad” and 22 other recordings into the Library’s catalogue that preserves the nation’s sound heritage. This year’s class spans 70 years of music, news and sports broadcasts and other audio recordings. It includes music from country, pop, jazz, Latin, folk, funk and R&B artists. The list begins with 1944’s “Cocktails for Two,” a novelty record by Spike Jones and His City Slickers, and concludes with Taylor Swift’s 2014 album, “1989.” The only non-musical inductee was the electrifying broadcast of the 1971 boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Frazier at Madison Square Garden, known as the “Fight of the Century.” “The Library of Congress is proud to select these audio treasures and will work to preserve them with our partners in the recording industry,” said Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen, who made the final selections from a list composed by the National Recording Preservation Board. The sweep and diversity of the class “beautifully captures the scope of the American experience as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary,” said…
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2026 National Recording Registry: You Can “Put a Ring on It”
Source: Library of Congress Blogs — US Government, Public Domain