No Woman Has Won a Grammy for Songwriter of the Year — Will One of These Women Be the First?

In the two years that the Recording Academy has presented a Grammy for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical, four women have been nominated for the award. Amy Allen, Nyja Charles and Laura Veltz were nominated in the category's inaugural year. Jessie Jo Dillon was nominated at the ceremony in February.

The men won both years. Tobias Jesso Jr. won in 2023 for writing songs by artists such as Harry Styles, Adele and FKA Twigs. Theron Thomas won earlier this year for writing songs from artists like Lil Durk featuring J. Cole, Tyla and Chlöe.

The list of 61 songwriters up for nominations in this category this year includes 20 women, one of whom may make history as the first woman to win in the category.

The list includes two women who have already won Grammys – Allen, who won album of the year in 2023 for her songwriting contribution to Harry Styles. Harry's houseand Diane Warren, who won Best Song Written Specially for a Motion Picture or Television in 1997 for “Because You Loved Me” from the Michelle Pfeiffer film Up close and personal.

This year's entry list also includes eight women who have been nominated for one or more Grammys but have yet to win – Dillon, Sarah Aarons, Caroline Ailin, Jessi Alexander, Brittany Amaradio (aka Delacey), Ink (Atia Boggs), Ali Tamposi and Emily Warren.

The list also includes 10 women vying for their first Grammy nomination – Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Jessie Early, Julia Gargano, Sarah Hudson, Lauren Lee Hungate, Steph Jones, Kayla Morrison, RAYE, Sasha Alex Sloan and Betsy Walter.

You might be surprised to see RAYE on the list because of the academy's focus in this category on non-artists. To qualify for the award, writers “must have written at least five songs in which they are credited solely as a songwriter or co-writer” (and not also as a lead or featured artist or producer). But if they meet that threshold, they may also have written or co-written tracks that the artist was on.

RAYE qualified because in addition to writing for herself, she also writes for other artists. Her entries this year include Rita Ora's “Ask & You Shall Receive,” Halle's “Because I Love You,” “Dear Ben Pt.” by Jennifer Lopez. II,” Beyoncé's “Riiverdance” and Neiked's “You're Hired” (featuring Ayra Starr).

Nominating songwriters can come from any musical field, except classical. These composers are recognized in the category of best contemporary classical composition.

Will any of these women be nominated for non-classical songwriter of the year? We'll find out on November 8 when the nominees are announced. Winners will be announced on February 2nd.

As a bonus, here are the first women to win in 10 other song categories at the Grammys.

Song of the Year: Carole King in 1972 for writing “You've Got a Friend”, which appeared on her Tapestry album and was also a No. 1 Hot 100 hit for James Taylor. It took a while for a woman to win this award: This was the 14th year of the category. King later also became the first woman to win the Gershwin Award for Popular Song.

Best Rock Song: Alanis Morisette in 1996 for 'You Oughta Know', her most incendiary track Jagged little pill album, with Glen Ballard. This was the fifth year of the category.

Best R&B Song: Betty Wright in 1976, for writing her track “Where Is the Love” with Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch (both of KC and the Sunshine Band) and Willie Clark. Note: This is not the much more famous Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway title song, but the confusion with this classic may have worked in this song's favor. This was the eighth year of the category.

Best Rap Song: Miri Ben Ari in 2005, for writing Ye's “Jesus Walks” with Che Smith and Kanye West (as Ye was then known). This was the second year of the category.

Best Country Song: Debbie Hupp in 1980, for co-writing the Kenny Rogers ballad hit “You Decorated My Life” with Bob Morrison. This was the 16th year of the category.

Best Song Written for Visual Media: Cynthia Weil in 1988, for the script of the Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram hit “Somewhere Out There” (from An American tail) with her husband and longtime collaborator Barry Mann and film composer James Horner. This was the first year of the category. (The ballad also won song of the year.)

Best American roots song: Edie Brickell in 2014 for writing 'Love Has Come for You' with Steve Martin. They also recorded the song. This was the first year of the category.

Best Gospel Song: Yolanda Adams in 2006 for writing her track “Be Blessed” with Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis and James Q. Wright. This was the first year of the category. The award is now known as the best gospel performance/song.

Best Contemporary Christian Song: Laura Story in 2012 for writing her own track 'Blessings'. This was the category's third year. The award is now known as the best contemporary Christian music performance/song.

Best Modern Classical Composition: Joan Tower in 2008 for the composition of “Made in America”. This was the 30th year of the category.