Grammy-winning American songwriter Billy Steinberg, best known for co-writing Madonna’s chart-topping hit “Like a Virgin,” has died. He was 75.

Steinberg passed away on Monday, February 16, 2026, following a battle with cancer, according to his lawyer, Laurie Soriano, who confirmed the news to the Los Angeles Times.

In a statement, his family paid tribute to his enduring legacy, saying: “Billy Steinberg’s life was a testament to the enduring power of a well-written song — and to the idea that honesty, when set to music, can outlive us all.”

Raised in Palm Springs, California, Steinberg rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s, penning some of pop music’s most iconic hits for global superstars including Whitney Houston, Cyndi Lauper and Celine Dion.

Over the course of his celebrated career, he co-wrote five songs that reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, among them “Like a Virgin,” which he wrote alongside longtime collaborator Tom Kelly.

In 1997, Steinberg earned a Grammy Award for his work connected to Celine Dion’s album Falling Into You. His contributions to the music industry were further recognized in 2011 when he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

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Steinberg is survived by his wife, Trina, two sons, and two stepchildren.