Amy Allen has made history as the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Songwriter, Non-Classical. While she may not be a household name, her music has undoubtedly found its way into the ears of millions through chart-topping hits she has penned for artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Timberlake, and Tate McRae.
Allen was one of four women nominated for the award, now in its third year as a standalone category at the Grammys. In her acceptance speech, she underscored the often-overlooked role of songwriters, stating, “Without us, there would be no songs for anyone to win awards for.”
This wasn’t Allen’s first recognition at the Grammys—she was nominated for the same award in 2023. Although she didn’t win then, she took home her first Grammy for her contributions to Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, which won 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 accepting her award. She also acknowledged legendary songwriters before her who never had the chance to receive similar accolades.
Allen’s journey into music began at just eight years old when she played bass in her sister’s band. After high school, she initially pursued nursing before following her passion and attending Berklee School of Music. Her early music career saw her fronting Amy and the Engine and opening for artists such as Kacey Musgraves and Vance Joy.
Her breakthrough as a songwriter came with Selena Gomez’s Back to You, which she credited as the turning point in her career. She later collaborated with Gomez again on My Mind & Me, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song in 2023.
Allen has since worked with numerous top-tier artists, co-writing hits such as Adore You for Harry Styles and contributing to songs for Halsey, Lizzo, and Justin Bieber. Her total Grammy nominations now stand at eight, with four earned this year alone.
One of her most notable projects in 2024 was her extensive collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. She co-wrote every track on Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet album, with Carpenter praising her as a “once-in-a-lifetime writer and friend.”
Allen dedicated her historic win to all songwriters who have been underappreciated for far too long. “We are the engine that fuels the music industry,” she declared. “And have been so long overlooked and under-appreciated. It goes without saying, we have a long way to go.”
As Allen continues to break barriers and shape the sound of modern pop music, her Grammy win marks not just a personal achievement but a victory for songwriters everywhere.