Amy Allen Is the First Woman to Win the Grammy for Songwriter of the Year — Who Were the First Women to Win in Other Songwriting Categories?

Amy Allen made history at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday (Feb. 2), becoming the first woman to win for songwriter of the year, non-classical. The category is still fairly new: This was just the third year it was presented. Tobias Jesso Jr. was the inaugural winner in 2023, for writing songs by such artists as Harry Styles, Adele and FKA Twigs. Theron Thomas won in 2024 for writing songs by such artists as Lil Durk featuring J. Cole, Tyla and Chlöe.

Allen beat Jessi Alexander, Édgar Barrera, Jessie Jo Dillon and RAYE to take the honor. All nominated songwriters in this category have sample credits listed on the ballot. Allen’s were “Espresso,” “Please Please Please” and “Taste” by Sabrina Carpenter; “Sweet Dreams” and “High Road” by Koe Wetzel (the latter a collab with Jessie Murph), “Chrome Cowgirl” by Leon Bridges, “Run for the Hills” by Tate McRae, “Scared of my Guitar” by Olivia Rodrigo,  and “Selfish “ by Justin Timberlake.

Nominees for songwriter of the year, non-classical can come from any musical field except classical. Those composers are recognized in the best contemporary classical composition category.

Allen received her first Grammy nod three years ago for her songwriting contributions to the deluxe edition of Justin Bieber’s Justice, an album of the year nominee. She won her first Grammy two years ago for her songwriting contributions to Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, which won album of the year.

Allen had three other nominations this year – album of the year for Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet, song of the year for “Please Please Please” and best song written for visual media for *NSYNC’s “Better Place” from TROLLS Band Together.

To mark Allen’s achievement as the first woman to win songwriter of the year, non-classical, here are the first women to win in 10 other songwriting categories at the Grammys.