Carole King to Receive the Gershwin Prize

Carole King will be the recipient of the 2013 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the Library of Congress announced on Thursday.

“Carole King has been one of the most influential songwriters of our time,” the librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, said in announcing the award. He added, “Her body of work reflects the spirit of the Gershwin Prize with its originality, longevity and diversity of appeal.”

Ms. King, 70, is perhaps best known as the songwriter of hits like “You've Got a Friend,” “So Far Away,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “I Feel the Earth Move.” Her 1971 album “Tapestry” remains one of the best-selling LPs of all time and earned her four Grammy Awards, including album of the year.

But before that breakout album, she was one of pop's most prolific songwriters in the 1960s, churning out hit after hit with her writing partner and husband, Ge rry Goffin, starting with the Shirelles' single “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.” Their other hits included “Chains,” “The Loco-Motion” and “Up on the Roof.”

Ms. King will be saluted with a series of events in Washington next spring, including an honoree's luncheon and musical performance in the Library of Congress's Coolidge Auditorium. Past recipients of the Gershwin Prize include Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and the songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David.