Songwriter Amy Allen on Feb. 2, when she won the songwriter of the year Grammy.  Photo by Caity Krone

Maine native Amy Allen won songwriter of the year at the Grammy Awards on Feb. 2 in Los Angeles. Allen, who grew up in Windham and South Portland, has become one of pop music’s most in-demand songwriters over the past few years.

Allen’s songwriter of the year nomination listed songs she worked on for Leon Bridges, Sabrina Carpenter, Tate McRae, Olivia Rodrigo, Justin Timberlake and others. About a week after she won the Grammy, Allen took time to answer some questions about the win and her career.

What were your first thoughts when you heard your name called, as the winner for songwriter of the year?

I don’t even really remember hearing my name, I just remember the sound of my sisters screaming and then I immediately turned to give them and my parents and my manager, Gabz Landman, a huge hug.

Who did you bring to the Grammys and why? 

My parents (Melissa and Jim), my sisters (Amanda and Ashley), my boyfriend and my manager. It was really important for me to have my family there because, in a way, I almost feel like they deserve the award more than I do. They’ve been the ones listening to my songs since I was 9 years old and cheering me on even when the songs were objectively bad. And of course I needed to bring my manager, and one of my best friends, Gabz, who has been with me since I signed my first publishing deal and started writing for other artists eight years ago.

Amy Allen, center, with parents Jim and Melissa Allen on the night of the Grammy Awards. Photo by Caity Krone

Besides winning, what were some of the best or most exciting things for you about the Grammys? 

There were so many moments it’s hard to pinpoint just a couple, but just generally having my family in LA for a few days is something we never get to do, so it was amazing to just get that quality time with them. And then a more specific standout moment would probably be my dad going up to Sabrina Carpenter at my party, having never met her before, and telling her in his thick Maine accent that he really loves her Dunkin’ Donuts commercial.

Has winning songwriter of the year at the Grammys changed things for you? 

It’s only been a week so I can’t say if it’s changing things for me as an individual, but I do think the award is changing things for songwriters as a whole. “Songwriter of the year non-classical” has only been a category at the Grammys for three years, which is wild when you think about how many amazing songwriters have soundtracked and inspired generations, and how none of them had the opportunity to be seen and celebrated for their work. So I mostly just feel proud and grateful to represent the songwriter community, and feel hopeful that this is the beginning of a new era for songwriter viability, and for change in how the music industry views and compensates songwriters.

When you look back at growing up in Maine, who were some of the people who helped you get to where you are?  

My entire family. Including my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. My uncle Peter works at a gym called Basics in Westbrook and teaches aerobics classes to senior citizens. He constantly is sending me videos of them doing fun choreography to songs I’ve written, and moments like that make me feel so grateful to be from such a loving and supportive Maine family. Of course, there’s also Carter Logan, who was my first and only guitar teacher and allowed me and my sister to open for his band, Jerks of Grass, at Gritty’s and Bull Feeney’s every Thursday night from the age of 13 to 18. Also Charlie Gaylord, Jon Wyman, and so many other amazing Mainers who have helped and believed in me since I was just a kid trying to learn how to play “Hotel California” on my first guitar from Buckdancer’s Choice (in Portland), still my favorite guitar shop!