Grammys 2026: Who Could Win in Packed Songwriter Of The Year (Non-Classical) Category?

You might hear your favorite song, and, while appreciating the hook and lyrics, you probably don’t think too much about the process. That’s what the new Grammys Songwriter of the Year category is all about. Added in 2023 by the Songwriters and Composers Wing of the Grammys, this category is meant to honor the songwriters who play an integral part in supporting and enhancing the industry. 

An Idea Becomes a Song

A lot of performers write or co-write their own songs that they perform. However, a portion of the songs you hear are written by someone who is behind the scenes, imagining the music for someone else to perform. To be eligible, a songwriter must have written or co-written a minimum of four songs during the time period. The prospective nominees can submit up to nine songs they have written or co-written during this eligibility period. 

Songwriter of the Year Nominees

Recognized by their skill and talent, these writers have penned songs for multiple artists you hear and download today. The impressive 2026 Grammy nominees include some prolific song crafters. 

Amy Allen

Allen was the winner last year. She has written songs for Selena Gomez, Harry Styles, Shawn Mendes, and Sabrina Carpenter. “Manchild” and “Please Please Please” are two of her best-known songs, written for Carpenter. 

Allen’s background includes playing bass in her sister’s band, Jerks of Grass. She is an alum of Berkeley College of Music and has worked with renowned singer and producer Kara DioGuardi. Shortly afterward, Allen formed the band Amy & the Engine. She was featured in Forbes’ “30 Under 30 in Music” in 2020.

Édgar Barrera

Also known as Edge, Barrera is a singer, songwriter, and producer based in Florida. He has won nearly 30 Latin Grammys and has written songs for Camila Cabello, Bad Bunny, Shakira, Maluma, Marc Anthony, and The Weeknd, to name a few. 

Barerra’s influences include traditional South American beats mixed with tropical rhythms. He has been one of the most nominated musicians over the past few years at the Latin Grammys. This prolific producer embarked on his musical tenure in the early 2010s, making him one of the youngest songwriters and producers to have such an incredibly successful start in the industry.

Jessie Jo Dillon

This country song crafter is the daughter of country artist Dean Dillon. She has written hundreds of songs for artists like Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney, Dan + Shay, and Post Malone, among others. Dillon got her start in her early 20s, after learning music on various instruments. 

Dillion has written close to 1,000 songs that are in the BMI database. She was the recipient of the Academy of Country Music Songwriter of the Year Award in 2024. She works primarily with Big Machine Records, which is based in Nashville. 

Tobias Jesso Jr. 

Jesso Jr. is a native of British Columbia, Canada. Originally a guitarist and bassist, he eventually moved to piano, where he now writes most of his songs. In the past, he has written for Adele, Omar Apollo, FKA twigs, and Diplo.

Inspired by artists like Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman, Jesso Jr. started his songwriting career about 10 years ago and has collaborated with multiple artists. A few of his regular collaborators include Niall Horan, the Haim sisters, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, and even his competition, Amy Allen. 

Laura Veltz

This songwriter got her start in the DC suburbs, in the town of Vienna, Virginia. She performed with her family band, Cecilia, at local clubs. After moving to New York in the early 2000s, she continued to perform as a multi-instrumentalist with her family’s band before moving to Nashville around 2008. 

Veltz has written a plethora of songs for artists like Maren Morris, Edens Edge, Ryan Hurd, The Cadillac Three, and Jessie Murph. Her first nomination for Best Country Song in 2020 was for Dan + Shay’s “Speechless.” She won both the Academy of Country Music Award and the CMA Award for her work on “The Bones,” alongside Morris and Jimmy Robbins. 

The Songs with Staying Power

The competition for Songwriter of the Year is going to be tight this year. It’s diverse, ranging from country, pop, R&B, to Latin and indie songs. We have five seasoned pros who have worked tirelessly, collaborating with other artists, producers, and even occasionally competing songwriters to help produce something that is both meaningful and memorable.

Here is the complete list of songs being considered for this year’s Grammys. Nominations for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical include:

Amy Allen
• “APT.” (ROSÉ, Bruno Mars)
• “Bad as the Rest” (Jessie Murph)
• “Hail Mary” (Shaboozey, Sierra Ferrell)
• “Handlebars” (JENNIE Featuring Dua Lipa)
• “Just Keep Watching” (Tate McRae)
• “Lost in Translation” (Carín León & Kasey Musgraves)
• “Manchild” (Sabrina Carpenter)
• “Tears” (Sabrina Carpenter)
• “WHY” (Jon Bellion Featuring Luke Combs)

Édgar Barrera
• “Birthday Behavior” (BIA, Young Miko)
• “Coleccionando Heridas” (KAROL G, Marco Antonio Solís)
• “Ese Vato No Te Queda” (Carín León, Gabito Ballesteros)
• “Me Jalo” (Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera)
• “Me Retiro” (Santana, Grupo Frontera)
• “Milagros” (KAROL G)
• “Sígueme Besando Así” (Manuel Turizo)
• “Soltera” (Shakira)
• “Una Noche Contigo” (Juanes)

Jessie Jo Dillon
• “Bless Your Heart” (Megan Moroney)
• “Bottomland” (HARDY)
• “Dreams Don’t Die” (Jelly Roll)
• “First Rodeo” (Kelsea Ballerini)
• “Happen to Me” (Russell Dickerson)
• “Hello S***ty Day” (Jake Worthington, Miranda Lambert)
• “If You Were Mine” (Morgan Wallen)
• “Patterns” (Kelsea Ballerini)
• “To the Men That Love Women After Heartbreak” (Kelsea Ballerini)

Tobias Jesso Jr.
• “Another Baby!” (Dijon)
• “Baby!” (Dijon)
• “Daisies” (Justin Bieber)
• “From” (Bon Iver)
• “Go Baby” (Justin Bieber)
• “Golden Burning Sun” (Miley Cyrus)
• “Man I Need” (Olivia Dean)
• “Relationships” (HAIM)
• “Walking Away” (Justin Bieber)

Laura Veltz
• “About You” (BigXthaPlug Featuring Tucker Wetmore)
• “Blue Strips” (Jessie Murph)
• “Grand Bouquet” (Maren Morris)
• “Leave Me Too” (Josh Ross)
• “Parallel Universe” (Lauren Spencer Smith)
• “Someone In This Room” (Jessie Murph Featuring Bailey Zimmerman)
• “Touch Me Like A Gangster” (Jessie Murph)
• “What Tomorrow’s For” (Blessing Offor)
• “You’ll Be OK, Kid” – From The Original Documentary “Child Star” (Demi Lovato)

Tune In Live! 

To find out who will take home the golden phonograph, tune in on Sunday, February 1, on CBS. It also streams on Paramount+. The fun begins at 8 pm and runs til 11:30 pm EST.