Amy Allen Makes History as First Woman to Win Best Songwriter Grammy

Amy Allen achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Songwriter, bringing attention to over-acknowledged contributions of songwriters in popular music.

In a spectacular night at the Grammy Awards, songwriter Amy Allen made history by clinching the title of Best Songwriter, becoming the first woman to achieve this honor. Although you may not have recognized her name, Allen is the creative force behind several popular hits, including Sabrina Carpenter's chart-toppers like "Espresso" and "Please Please Please." She also contributed to tracks for high-profile artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Timberlake, and Tate McRae.

Allen was one of four women nominated in the non-classical songwriter category, now in its third year as a standalone event. During her heartfelt acceptance speech, she addressed the past oversight regarding the value of songwriters and stated, "Without us, there would be no songs for anyone to win awards for."

Previously, Allen was nominated for the same award in 2023—the inaugural year of this category—but did not win. However, she did walk away with a Grammy for her contributions to Harry Styles' album, "Harry's House," which was awarded Album of the Year. "The child in me that started writing songs when I was little in Maine is screaming and crying and laughing at the absurdity of this moment," she expressed while holding the golden gramophone.

Her journey into music began at an early age, performing bass in her sister's band at just eight years old. Though she originally pursued nursing studies, she later shifted gears, enrolling at Berklee College of Music. Allen's first significant hit as a songwriter came from penning "Back to You" for Selena Gomez, a career-defining moment that propelled her into the spotlight.

After her collaboration with Gomez on "My Mind & Me," which received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song in 2023, Allen continued to build her repertoire with other luminaries like Halsey, Lizzo, and Styles, contributing to hits like “Adore You.” To date, she has received a total of eight Grammy nominations, four of which were this year.

Allen collaborated closely with Carpenter on every track of her chart-topping album "Short n'Sweet." Carpenter praised Allen as a "once-in-a-lifetime writer and friend," affirming that her creativity flows naturally and effortlessly.

This year, Allen faced competition from singers Raye as well as songwriters Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon, and Edgar Barrera. Acknowledging her fellow nominees, Allen stated that they were all engaged in "fighting the good fight" for songwriters who have long been "overlooked and under-appreciated" in the industry, emphasizing the ongoing need for recognition and change.