Atlanta producer Tricky Stewart earns Songwriters Hall of Fame nomination

In 1989, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart tagged along with his older brother, Laney Stewart, and their cousin, Kuk Harrell, from their hometown of Chicago to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to watch them mix demos at a recording studio.

They listened to singer Babyface’s album “Tender Lover” on the drive, and Stewart was hooked to its vocals, lyrics and instrumentation. He set goals to create a songwriting and production duo who could make timeless music in every genre and uplift creatives.

“That album was polished, perfection and superior to what was happening at that time. From that point on, I knew I wanted to make records like Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid, Kenneth ‘Babyface’ Edmonds, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, because they all worked with the biggest artists in the game,” Stewart told UATL.

Thirty-six years later, Stewart — producer and co-writer of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”; Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and “Break My Soul”; Mary J. Blige’s “Just Fine”; Mariah Carey’s “Touch My Body”; and Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” with artist and songwriter Terius “The-Dream” Nash — is nominated for induction into the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes song creators for their cultural contributions.

The ballots are voted on by record executives and music publishers. Winners will be announced next year.

If inducted, Stewart will join a roster including Atlanta producers Dallas Austin and Jermaine Dupri. Stewart, a five-time Grammy winner, said hearing the news from Sony Music Publishing Chairman and CEO Jon Platt made it special.

“I felt a little tug of something, because I got the call from the highest of the highest person I could possibly get it from, and it’s a moment that he and I will share forever,” Stewart said.

“Being considered at that level is the highest achievement that could possibly get put on my career.”

Producer and songwriter Tricky Stewart is nominated for induction into the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Being considered at that level is the highest achievement that could possibly get put on my career,” Stewart says. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

In 2007, Stewart and The-Dream started regularly collaborated on songs like “Falsetto” and “I Luv Your Girl” for The-Dream’s debut album, “Love/Hate.” The-Dream came up with verses and hooks while Stewart concentrated on sounds.

“It’s a 50/50 thing, but Dream is an ultimate wordsmith who creates slogans and is a mastermind at how he makes people feel for a long time,” Stewart said.

Atlanta singer-songwriter Terius “The-Dream" Nash helped write such hits as Rihanna's “Umbrella” and Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It). (AJC 2008)

Stewart said he handpicks studio personnel and curates the environment during sessions.

“The producer is responsible for the outcome, so it’s getting the right people in the room, making sure the artists sound better than they’ve ever sounded by singing records they’ve never sang, feeling great about it and getting business handled at the same time,” he said.

Tricky Stewart listens to a song in production at Sessions Atlanta, his music recording complex, on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. Stewart says he handpicks studio personnel and curates the environment during sessions. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

In 1994, Stewart moved to Atlanta from Los Angeles after earning credits on songs by Bobby Brown and Chante Moore. He started a record label, Red Zone Entertainment, and opened a recording studio, Triangle Sound Studios.

Five years later, Stewart produced his first major hit, JT Money’s “Who Dat.” He later worked on Mya’s “Case of the Ex,” B2K’s “Uh Huh,” Britney Spears’ “Me Against the Music” and Frank Ocean’s “Novacane.”

Stewart, a child prodigy from a musical family, said he could distinguish between good songs and hit records.

“I grew up in studios my entire life, so I always heard people’s music. Songs consist of melodies, chord progressions and a beat, but a hit is what the music industry sells, has something catchy and what labels think has the potential of being a global phenomenon,” he said.

Tricky Stewart, a child prodigy from a musical family, says he could distinguish between good songs and hit records. “I grew up in studios my entire life, so I always heard people’s music.” (Natrice Miller/AJC)

In 2011, Stewart was hired by Reid to become an executive at Epic Records, where he signed artists, oversaw releases and soundtracks. He took the job because of his loyalty to his mentor.

“He had to rebuild the company, and I wanted to make sure he was straight,” he said.

Two years later, Stewart resigned from Epic, because he said he was more passionate about making art than some of his co-workers.

“Music is the No. 1 commodity in my life. You have to get used to people who don’t care about it that much, and it wasn’t something I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing,” he said.

In 2023, he opened Sessions Atlanta, a 10,000-square-foot recording studio and event complex in West Midtown, as an incubator and safe space for aspiring musicians.

“It was getting harder to have women come into these male-dominated environments. I wanted to provide opportunities for young instrumentalists and creatives to have a place to go to when they needed to still work instead of somewhere they hated,” he said.

In 2023, Tricky Stewart opened Sessions Atlanta, a 10,000-square-foot recording studio and event complex in West Midtown, as an incubator and safe space for aspiring musicians. (Natrice Miller/AJC)