Girl Crush - wikipedia Girl Crush `` Girl Crush '' Single by Little Big Town from the album Pain Killer Released December 15, 2014 ( 2014 - 12 - 15 ) Format Digital download Genre Country blue - eyed soul Length 3 : 13 Label Capitol Nashville Interscope Songwriter ( s ) Lori McKenna Hillary Lindsey Liz Rose Producer ( s ) Jay Joyce Little Big Town singles chronology `` Day Drinking '' ( 2014 ) `` Girl Crush '' ( 2014 ) `` Smokin ' and Drinkin ' '' ( 2015 ) `` Day Drinking '' ( 2014 ) `` Girl Crush '' ( 2014 ) `` Smokin ' and Drinkin ' '' ( 2015 ) `` Girl Crush '' is a song written by Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey and Liz Rose, and performed by American country music group Little Big Town. It was released on December 15, 2014 as the second single from their sixth studio album, Pain Killer. Contents 1 Content 1.1 Composition 2 Critical reception 2.1 Awards and nominations 3 Commercial performance 4 Music video 5 Live performances 6 Cover versions 7 Charts and certifications 7.1 Weekly charts 7.2 Year - end charts 7.3 Certifications 8 References Content As CMT 's Alison Bonaguro writes, `` It 's more about wanting to taste her lips in order to taste him and to drown in her perfume, to have her long blond hair -- and so on -- all in an effort to get him back ''. Bonaguro also adds, `` On the other hand, it could also be about a girl obsessing over the girl who is with the man that she wants but has never had. That mystery is unclear, which only adds to the allure of this song ''. Lori McKenna stated that when she presented the idea to co-writer Liz Rose that Rose disliked the idea at first but that Rose changed her mind after hearing the first verse that Hillary Lindsey had written. Group members Kimberly Schlapman and Karen Fairchild heard the song and asked that it be saved for them. Composition `` Girl Crush '' is in the key of C major and a 6 / 8 time signature, with an approximate tempo of 58 dotted quarter notes per minute and a primary chord pattern of C - Em - F-G. Karen Fairchild 's lead vocals range from G - A. Critical reception `` Girl Crush '' received mostly positive reviews. CMT 's Alison Bonaguro writes, `` If anyone knows how to write a country song that 's never been written before, it 's these three '' : Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, and Liz Rose. Billy Dukes of Taste of Country states, `` Karen Fairchild 's lead on Little Big Town 's new single ' Girl Crush ' may be the best vocal performance of the year. Her anguish drives through you like a steam engine, and afterward she 's nothing but a puff of white smoke barely holding on to existence. '' Dukes adds, `` listen to the song on repeat and find yourself exhausted... in the best possible way '' and `` mass homogeny on the radio makes it seem impossible to create a sound or write a song that 's truly unique. It 's as if all the good ideas have been used up. Little Big Town prove this is not the case on each album they release. '' Awards and Nominations Year Association Result 2015 Country Music Association Awards Song of the Year Won Single of the Year Won Music Video of the Year Nominated 2016 Grammy Awards Best Country Duo / Group Performance Won Song of the Year Nominated Best Country Song Won Academy of Country Music Single Record of the Year Nominated Song of the Year Nominated Video of the Year Nominated CMT Music Awards Group / Duo Video of the Year Won CMT Performance of the Year Nominated A ^ `` Girl Crush '' as performed by Little Big Town. B ^ `` Girl Crush '' as performed by Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis was nominated as 2016 CMT Performance of the Year for their rendition of the song on the `` CMT Artists of the Year '' TV special on December 2, 2015. Their performance was in honor of Little Big Town in recognition of CMT 's selection of the group as a `` CMT Artist of the Year. '' Commercial performance `` Girl Crush '' debuted at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for the week ending November 8, 2014, before it was released as a single. It reached number one and remained there for thirteen consecutive weeks until it was knocked off by `` Kick the Dust Up '' by Luke Bryan. It debuted at number 55 on Billboard 's Country Airplay chart for the week ending December 27, 2014. `` Girl Crush '' sold 10,000 copies in its debut week of November 8, 2014. The song reached more than two million in sales by early February 2016. As of April 2017, `` Girl Crush '' had sold 2,398,000 copies in the United States. `` Girl Crush '' is Little Big Town 's highest charting single on Billboard 's all - genre Hot 100 chart, having peaked at number 18 for the week ending May 9, 2015 chart, besting the number 22 peak of `` Pontoon '' in 2012. It is also their highest showing on the Canadian Hot 100, besting the number 39 position of `` Pontoon '' in 2012. It is also their longest - running number one single, 13 weeks atop Hot Country Songs. It broke the record set by The Browns ' 1959 hit `` The Three Bells '' as the longest - running number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart by a group of three or more members. Some radio stations were reported to have pulled `` Girl Crush '' from their playlists, in response to concerns from listeners who interpreted the song to be about lesbianism. In response, Fairchild said, `` That 's just shocking to me, the close - mindedness of that, when that 's just not what the song was about... But what if it were ? It 's just a greater issue of listening to a song for what it is. '' In addition, the label created a short commercial in which the band discusses the song and its actual meaning. Billboard consulted several radio program directors on its panel and found only one who detailed a specific complaint from a listener ; the magazine concluded that the controversy surrounding the song was mostly fabricated. Music video The music video is in black - and - white. It was directed by Karla and Matthew Welch and premiered in April 2015. The music video was filmed in Los Angeles, California and produced by Meritocracy Inc. The music video is nominated for a 2016 Academy of Country Music Award for Video of the Year Live performances February 2015 -- The Ellen DeGeneres Show March 2015 -- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon April 2015 -- The 50th Annual ACM Awards May 2015 -- Billboard Music Awards with Faith Hill November 2015 -- CMA Awards February 2016 -- Grammy Awards Cover versions Kelly Clarkson covered the song at the Microsoft Store opening in Cerritos, California in November 2014. Miranda Lambert and Gwen Sebastian covered the song at a surprise concert in Nashville in January 2015. In March 2015, Halestorm covered the song in concert in Munich, Germany. On the April 13, 2015 episode ( Season 8 ) of The Voice, contestant Meghan Linsey ( formerly one - half of Steel Magnolia ) performed the song. Country singer Blake Shelton, who is a judge on the show, said that the song was his favorite on the radio at that point. Reba McEntire, who served as a mentor on the episode, also reacted favorably to Linsey 's rendition. Linsey 's version peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and number 1 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles. Lauren Alaina covered the song during her radio tour. Adam Lambert and Leona Lewis performed the song at the 2015 CMT `` Artists of the Year '' special to honor Little Big Town. Lewis and Lambert 's version of the song was nominated for `` Performance of the Year '' at the 2016 CMT Music Awards. On September 25, 2017, Harry Styles performed the song in concert at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville on the first leg of his first world tour. He also released an acoustic rendition of the song as a Spotify single in September 27, 2017. He recorded the single in Metropolis Studios, London. Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 2014 -- 15 ) Peak position Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 29 Canada Country ( Billboard ) 11 US Billboard Hot 100 18 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) US Country Airplay ( Billboard ) US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 29 US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) 23 Year - end charts Chart ( 2015 ) Position Canada ( Canadian Hot 100 ) 85 US Billboard Hot 100 63 US Country Airplay ( Billboard ) 38 US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) Certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales United States ( RIAA ) 3 × Platinum 2,398,000 Preceded by `` Take Your Time '' by Sam Hunt Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one single May 9 -- August 1, 2015 Succeeded by `` Kick the Dust Up '' by Luke Bryan References Jump up ^ `` Future Releases - Country ''. AllAccess Music Group. Retrieved 9 December 2014. Jump up ^ Bonaguro, Alison. `` I 'm Crushing on Little Big Town 's `` Girl Crush '' ``. Retrieved 9 December 2014. Jump up ^ Rodman, Sarah ( 15 December 2014 ). `` Lori McKenna Reveals Her ' Girl Crush ' ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 January 2015. Jump up ^ `` ' Girl Crush ' sheet music ''. MusicNotes.com. Retrieved 2 May 2015. Jump up ^ Dukes, Billy. `` Little Big Town, ' Girl Crush ' -- ToC Critic 's Pick ( Listen ) ''. Taste of Country. Retrieved 9 December 2014. Jump up ^ Bjorke, Matt. `` Country Music 's Top 30 Digital Singles : October 29, 2014 ''. Retrieved 8 January 2015. Jump up ^ Brian Cantor. `` Little Big Town 's `` Girl Crush '' crosses the 2 million US sales mark ``. Headline Planet. ^ Jump up to : Bjorke, Matt ( April 17, 2017 ). `` Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart : April 17, 2017 ''. Roughstock. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town - Chart history ''. Billboard. Retrieved 29 June 2017. Jump up ^ Asker, Jim. `` Kacey Musgraves ' Material ' - izes at No. 1 on Country Chart ; Little Big Town Ties Record ''. Billboard. Retrieved 3 July 2015. Jump up ^ Yahr, Emily ( 25 March 2015 ). `` Why stations are pulling Little Big Town 's ' Girl Crush ' -- and what that says about country radio ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 March 2015. Jump up ^ Stark, Phyllis ( 27 March 2015 ). `` Controversy Over Little Big Town 's ' Girl Crush ' & Its ' Lesbian Theme ' Is Mostly Fabricated ''. Billboard. Retrieved 30 March 2015. Jump up ^ `` Music Video Of The Year ''. Retrieved 14 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` CMT : Videos : Little Big Town : Girl Crush ''. Country Music Television. Retrieved April 10, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Nominees ''. ACM Awards. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Performs ' Girl Crush ' ''. Retrieved 19 May 2015. Jump up ^ Bell, Rebekah. `` Little Big Town Perform ' Girl Crush ' on ' The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon ' ( Watch ) ''. Taste of Country. Retrieved 18 May 2015. Jump up ^ Lynch, Joe. `` Little Big Town Bring Provocative ' Girl Crush ' to 2015 ACMs ''. Retrieved 18 May 2015. Jump up ^ Lynch, Joe. `` 2015 Billboard Music Awards : 10 Best Performances ''. Retrieved 18 May 2015. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Performs ' Girl Crush ' at the 2015 CMA Awards ''. Retrieved 14 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Performs ' Girl Crush ' at the 2016 Grammys ''. Retrieved 14 January 2017. Jump up ^ Scott, Jason. `` Kelly Clarkson offers smooth cover of Little Big Town 's ' Girl Crush ' : Watch ''. AXS. Retrieved 9 December 2014. Jump up ^ McMaster, Sean. `` Dark - Haired Miranda Lambert Sings ' Girl Crush ' With Gwen Sebastian at Surprise Club Show Read More : Dark - Haired Miranda Lambert Sings ' Girl Crush ' With Gwen Sebastian at Surprise Club Show ''. Retrieved 19 February 2015. Jump up ^ `` Halestorm - Girl Crush ( Little Big Town cover ) ''. Retrieved 10 May 2015. Jump up ^ Dukes, Billy ( 14 April 2015 ). `` Meghan Linsey Brings Her ' Girl Crush ' to ' The Voice ' ''. Taste of Country. Retrieved 23 April 2015. Jump up ^ Anderson, Danielle ( 14 April 2015 ). `` See The Voice 's Meghan Linsey ' Kick the Dog Poo ' out of Little Big Town 's ' Girl Crush ' ''. People. Retrieved 23 April 2015. Jump up ^ `` Meghan Linsey Album & Song Chart History - Country Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 23, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Meghan Linsey Album & Song Chart History - Bubbling Under Hot 100 ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 23, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Lauren Alaina - Girl Crush ''. Jump up ^ `` CMT Artists Of The Year 2015 ''. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 16. Jump up ^ `` CMT Music Awards Nominations : The Complete List ''. Retrieved 14 January 2017. Jump up ^ `` Watch Harry Styles ' Evocative Take on Little Big Town 's ' Girl Crush ' ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Harry Styles Releases Pair of Gorgeous ' Spotify Singles ' Featuring Little Big Town Cover ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 29. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Chart History ( Canadian Hot 100 ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Chart History ( Canada Country ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Chart History ( Hot 100 ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Chart History ( Hot Country Songs ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Chart History ( Country Airplay ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Little Big Town Chart History ( Adult Pop Songs ) '' Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2015 : Canadian Hot 100 ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2015 : Hot 100 Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2015 : Country Airplay ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Best of 2015 : Hot Country Songs ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2015. Retrieved December 9, 2015. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Little Big Town -- Girl Crush ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH Little Big Town Studio albums Little Big Town The Road to Here A Place to Land The Reason Why Tornado Pain Killer Wanderlust The Breaker Notable singles `` Do n't Waste My Time '' `` Boondocks '' `` Bring It On Home '' `` Good as Gone '' `` A Little More You '' `` I 'm with the Band '' `` Fine Line '' `` Little White Church '' `` Pontoon '' `` Tornado '' `` Your Side of the Bed '' `` Sober '' `` Day Drinking '' `` Girl Crush '' `` Pain Killer '' `` Better Man '' `` Happy People '' Guest singles `` Smokin ' and Drinkin ' '' ( with Miranda Lambert ) Karen Fairchild 's Guest singles `` Home Alone Tonight '' ( with Luke Bryan ) Other songs `` Go Tell It on the Mountain '' `` Life in a Northern Town '' ( with Sugarland and Jake Owen ) Related articles Discography Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Girl_Crush&oldid=803100562 '' Categories : 2014 singles Little Big Town songs Capitol Records Nashville singles Song recordings produced by Jay Joyce Songs written by Lori McKenna Songs written by Hillary Lindsey Songs written by Liz Rose 2014 songs Billboard Hot Country Songs number - one singles Country ballads 2010s ballads Black - and - white music videos Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Canada Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Billboardcanadacountry Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardcountrysongs Singlechart usages for Billboardcountryairplay Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardadultpopsongs Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Italiano 日本 語 Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 30 September 2017, at 13 : 10. 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Question: who wrote the song girl crush by little big town
Answer: Lori McKenna