Amy Allen turns into first girl to win greatest songwriter Grammy

You could not have heard of the primary girl to be named greatest songwriter on the Grammys earlier than – however you could nicely have sung alongside to one among her hits.

Amy Allen is behind a string of pop chart-toppers together with Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso and Please Please Please, and was additionally nominated for co-writing tracks with Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Timberlake and Tate McRae.

Allen was one among 4 girls nominated for songwriter of the yr, non-classical, within the third yr because it was launched as a standalone class.

In her acceptance speech, she highlighted the prior lack of recognition for songwriters, including: “With out us, there can be no songs for anybody to win awards for.”

She was beforehand nominated for a similar award in 2023, its inaugural yr.

Whereas she didn’t win then, she took residence her first Grammy for her work on Harry Types’ Harry’s Home, which gained album of the yr.

“The kid in me that was beginning writing songs once I was little in Maine is screaming and crying and laughing on the absurdity of this second,” she mentioned as she picked up the golden gramophone on Sunday night time.

“That is the third yr that songwriter of the yr has even been a class, so this award goes out to all of the legends who soundtracked the lives and generations with all of our tales.

“It is best to have been capable of obtain your flowers again then.”

Allen, a singer herself who launched her debut album final September, entered the music world on the age of eight – taking part in bass in her sister’s band.

She stayed within the band till highschool after which went to nursing college, earlier than deciding to alter course and be a part of Berklee Faculty of Music. Her first undertaking was as Amy and the Engine, and she or he was the help act for singers like Kacey Musgraves and Vance Pleasure.

Allen’s first hit for one more artist got here when she penned Selena Gomez’s Again to You – one thing she mentioned “propelled” her profession in pop song-writing. She then paired up with Gomez to write down My Thoughts & Me, which was nominated for a greatest authentic tune Oscar in 2023.

She went on to work with Halsey and with Types, together with writing his hit Adore You, in addition to with Lizzo. Her first Grammy nomination was in 2022 for Justin Bieber album Justice.

Allen has since picked up a complete of eight nominations, together with 4 this yr.

She helped Carpenter write each observe on chart-topping album Brief n’Candy, with the singer telling Selection she was a “once-in-a-lifetime author and buddy”, including: “All of it involves her very naturally and effortlessly.”

This yr, Allen’s co-nominees have been the singer Raye, alongside writers Jessi Alexander, Jessie Jo Dillon and Edgar Barrera.

She mentioned the award additionally belonged to them, saying they have been “preventing the nice struggle”.

“We’re the engine that fuels the music business,” she mentioned. “And have been so lengthy missed and under-appreciated.

“It goes with out saying, we have now an extended solution to go.”