| 100% | NIGHTINGALE | 11 | Melodious bird in John Keats' titular poem that is a tribute to its song that soars beyond sorrow and time |
| 34% | LOVE | 4 | "Crazy Little Thing Called ___," 1979 song by Queen that is a tribute to Elvis Presley and Sir Cliff Richard |
| 34% | THE | 3 | "Candle in ___ Wind," a hit by Elton John that was a tribute to Princess Diana |
| 33% | EMPTY | 5 | "___ Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)," 1982 song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin which is a tribute to Lennon |
| 32% | NIGHTINGALE | 11 | "Ode to a ___", John Keats's poem on a bird, as he explored transience and mortality |
| 31% | BACK | 4 | "___ in Black," 1980 AC/DC song that was a tribute to their former singer Bon Scott |
| 31% | EMPTY | 5 | "___ Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)," 1982 Elton John song that was a tribute to John Lennon |
| 31% | ANNABEL | 7 | With 13-Down, titular maiden in a Poe poem that begins, "It was many and many a year ago, / In a kingdom by the sea" |
| 31% | MISSINGYOU | 10 | Tribute to Marvin Gaye written by Lionel Richie and sung by 50-Across that was a Top 10 hit in 1984 (2 wds.) |
| 31% | VINCENT | 7 | 1971 song by Don McLean that is named after and a tribute to Dutch artist Van Gogh |
| 31% | BABY | 4 | "Wonderful ___," 1975 song by Don McLean that was a tribute to Fred Astaire |
| 30% | CANDLE | 6 | "___ in the Wind 1997," charity single by Elton John that was rewritten as a tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales |
| 30% | FAN | 3 | "The Perfect ___," 1999 song by The Backstreet Boys that is a tribute to their mothers |
| 30% | DONE | 4 | "Look What You've ___," 2011 song by Drake that is a tribute to his mother |
| 30% | ROLLON | 6 | "___ John," 2012 song by Bob Dylan which is a tribute to Lennon: 2 wds. |
| 30% | MISSING | 7 | "I'll Be ___ You," 1997 Puff Daddy and Faith Evans song that was a tribute to rapper The Notorious B.I.G. |
| 30% | PSALM | 5 | A sacred song or poem that is present in the Bible |
| 29% | GEESE | 5 | Birds that are "a-laying" in a Christmas song |
| 29% | TEARJERKER | 10 | 1995 song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers that was a tribute to Nirvana's lead singer, Kurt Cobain |
| 29% | MALIBU | 6 | Hit song by American artist Miley Cyrus which depicts a city in California that is known for its celebrity homes and the sandy Zuma Beach |
| 29% | PIGEON | 6 | A common bird that is found in buildings and parks |
| 28% | ANNABELLEE | 10 | Classic poem that begins "It was many and many a year ago / In a kingdom by the sea" |
| 28% | CATNIP | 6 | A herb that is minty in flavour and causes euphoria to felines |
| 28% | PEGOMYHEART | 11 | Classic song about an Irish lass that was a #1 hit in 1913 and 1947 |
| 28% | BACKSTREETBOYS | 14 | Boy band formed in 1993 with a popular eponymous debut album and are famous for their song "I Want It That Way": 2 wds. |
| 28% | WALKONBY | 8 | Song by Burt Bacharach and 26-Across that was a hit for 15-Across in 1964: 3 wds. |
| 28% | REACHOUTFORME | 13 | Song by Burt Bacharach and 26-Across that was a hit for 15-Across in 1964: 4 wds. |
| 28% | FLAG | 4 | It caused some White House confusion in a 2018 tribute to Senator John McCain |
| 28% | PIGEON | 6 | Messenger bird that was used to carry romantic messages in olden times |
| 27% | PARADISE | 8 | It is Lost and Regained in two John Milton poems |