WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2026 — Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” has officially entered the National Recording Registry, giving one of the most recognizable songs of the 2000s a permanent place in America’s recorded sound history.
The Library of Congress announced its 2026 selections on May 14, adding 25 recordings to the registry. This year’s class includes Beyoncé’s 2008 hit alongside Taylor Swift’s 1989, Chaka Khan’s “I Feel for You,” Weezer’s Blue Album, The Go-Go’s Beauty and the Beat, Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High on That Mountain,” Reba McEntire’s Rumor Has It and more.
The honor marks Beyoncé’s first entry into the National Recording Registry. The Library of Congress says the registry preserves recordings considered culturally, historically or aesthetically significant to the nation’s recorded sound heritage. With the 2026 additions, the registry now includes 700 titles.
Released in 2008, “Single Ladies” quickly became one of Beyoncé’s signature songs. Its sharp beat, chant-ready hook and black-and-white music video turned it into more than a chart hit. The choreography became a pop-culture landmark of its own, spreading through award shows, TV parodies, weddings, school performances and living rooms where at least one person underestimated the wrist work.
The 2026 registry class also highlights the wide range of recordings that helped shape American culture, from pop and R&B to rock, country, Latin music, Broadway, video game music and sports broadcasting. AP reports that more than 3,000 public nominations were submitted for this year’s selections.