# Grammy Award for Song of the Year

The Grammy Award for Song of the Year is an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. The Song of the Year award is one of the four most prestigious categories at the awards (alongside Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Album of the Year), presented annually since the 1st Grammy Awards in 1959. According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide, the award is presented:
   to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position.
If a winning song contains samples or interpolations of existing material, the publisher and songwriter(s) of the original song(s) can apply for a Winners Certificate.
Song of the Year is related to but is conceptually different from Record of the Year or Album of the Year:
* Song of the Year is awarded for a single or for one track from an album. This award goes to the songwriter who actually wrote the lyrics and/or melodies to the song. "Song" in this context means the song as composed, not its recording.
* Record of the Year is also awarded for a single or individual track, but the recipient of this award is the performing artist, the producer, recording engineer and/or mixer for that song. In this sense, "record" means a particular recorded song, not its composition or an album of songs.
* Album of the Year is awarded for a whole album, and the award is presented to the artist, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, and mastering engineer for that album. In this context, "album" means a recorded collection of songs (a multi-track LP, CD, or download package), not the individual songs or their compositions.

## History and description

The Song of the Year awards have been awarded since 1959. It is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards. Despite both the Record of the Year award and Song of the Year being awarded for a single or for one track from an album, this award goes only to the composer(s) of the song whereas the Record of the Year award goes to the performer(s) and production team for a particular recording of the song. According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide, the award is given to the songwriter(s) of a song that "must contain melody and lyrics and must be either a new song or a song first achieving prominence during the eligibility year. Songs containing prominent samples or interpolations are not eligible".
The award has not always been restricted to new or newly prominent songs; for instance, in 1992, when the winner was Natalie Cole's cover of "Unforgettable" (a song that had first been recorded by Nat King Cole and achieved prominence in the 1950s), the rule was merely that the song had to have been recorded during the eligibility year and not previously nominated for the award.
Since the late 1960s other songwriter's awards have been presented for genre-specific categories, including Grammy Award for Best Country Song (since 1965), Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (since 1969), Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media (since 1988), Grammy Award for Best Rock Song (since 1992), and most recently Grammy Award for Best Rap Song (since 2004), Grammy Award for Best Gospel Song (from 2006 to 2014), Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Song (from 2012 to 2014), Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song (since 2014), Grammy Award for Best Gospel Performance/Song (since 2015), and Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song (since 2015).
The category was expanded to include eight nominees in 2019 and 10 nominees in 2022. The number of nominees was reverted to eight starting with the 2024 ceremony.
As of 2023, a distinct category to honor songwriters was established: Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical.

## Achievements

In many cases, the songwriters were also the performers (Domenico Modugno, Henry Mancini, John Lennon & Paul McCartney, Joe South, Paul Simon, Carole King, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Sting, Michael Jackson & Lionel Richie, Bobby McFerrin, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Seal, Shawn Colvin, Rob Thomas, U2, Alicia Keys, Luther Vandross, John Mayer, Dixie Chicks, Amy Winehouse, Coldplay, Beyoncé, Lady Antebellum, Adele, Fun, Lorde, Sam Smith, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Childish Gambino, Billie Eilish, H.E.R., Anderson .Paak, Bonnie Raitt and Kendrick Lamar).
Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II is the only songwriter to win Song of the Year in two consecutive years: in 2021 ("I Can't Breathe") and 2022 ("Leave the Door Open"). Other multiple winners in this category include Henry Mancini ("Moon River" and "Days of Wine and Roses"); Johnny Mercer ("Moon River" and "Days of Wine and Roses"); James Horner ("Somewhere Out There" and "My Heart Will Go On"); Will Jennings ("Tears in Heaven" and "My Heart Will Go On"); U2 ("Beautiful Day" and "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"); Adele ("Rolling in the Deep" and "Hello"); Christopher Brody Brown ("That's What I Like" and "Leave the Door Open"); Bruno Mars ("That's What I Like" and "Leave the Door Open"); Billie Eilish ("Bad Guy" and "What Was I Made For?"); and Finneas O'Connell ("Bad Guy" and "What Was I Made For?"), winning two times each. However, songs written for Andy Williams, Roberta Flack, Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler have received this award twice.
American singer/songwriter Taylor Swift is the most nominated songwriter in this category with eight nominations for "You Belong with Me", "Shake It Off", "Blank Space", "Lover", "Cardigan", "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)", "Anti-Hero" and "Fortnight"; although she has yet to win the award. She is followed by Jack Antonoff, Beyoncé, Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie with six nominations each.
Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Webb, Bobby Russell, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Kris Kristofersson, Michael McDonald, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Tim Rice, Brandi Carlile, Dernst Emile II and Jack Antonoff are the only songwriters with multiple nominations in the same year, with Antonoff achieving it twice; while Carlile and Emile achieved it in the same ceremony.
The first woman to win the award was Carole King in 1972, for "You've Got a Friend". Adele was the first female songwriter to win the award twice, winning for "Rolling in the Deep" and "Hello".
Lorde is the youngest songwriter to win in the category, winning for "Royals" in 2014 at the age of 17; while Irving Gordon is the oldest songwriter to win the award, winning for "Unforgettable" in 1992 at age 77.
Christopher Cross and Billie Eilish are the only artists to receive the Grammys for Song of the Year as well as Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist in a single ceremony. Adele was the first artist to win the awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best New Artist on separate occasions. Only six artists have won the Song of the Year and Best New Artist awards the same year: Christopher Cross ("Sailing" in 1981), Alicia Keys ("Fallin'" in 2002), Amy Winehouse ("Rehab" in 2008), Fun ("We Are Young" in 2013), Sam Smith ("Stay with Me (Darkchild Version)" in 2015) and Billie Eilish ("Bad Guy" in 2020); Marvin Hamlisch is the only composer to win the Song of the Year and Best New Artist awards the same year in 1975, for "The Way We Were".
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Lionel Richie, Diane Warren, Billie Eilish, H.E.R, Finneas O'Connell and Taylor Swift are the only songwriters to receive three consecutive nominations for Song of the Year.
The song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare)", winner in 1959, written by Domenico Modugno and performed in Italian, is the only foreign-language song to win this award, although the 1967 winner "Michelle" penned by Lennon–McCartney for The Beatles to perform, has a critical part of its lyrics in French.
The Ernest Gold song "Theme of Exodus", which won in 1961, is the only instrumental song to ever receive this award.
The first and only tie in this category in Grammy history took place in 1978, when both Barbra Streisand's & Paul Williams' "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" and Joe Brooks' "You Light Up My Life" won the award.
The first time in Grammy history that two different songs with the same title have been nominated in this category happened with "Hello" written by Lionel Richie in 1985 and "Hello" by Adele & Greg Kurstin in 2017.
The song with the most writers to win this award is "That's What I Like", which won in 2018 with eight writers. The song with the most writers nominated in this category is "Peaches", which had 11 co-writers nominated for the 2022 ceremony.
"Lose Yourself" by Eminem was the first rap song to be nominated while "This is America" by Childish Gambino and "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar are the only ones to ever win the award.
Thirty-two of the winning songs have also won the award for Record of the Year.

## Process

From 1995 to 2018, members of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences nominated their choices for song of the year. A list of the top twenty records was given to the Nominations Review Committee, a specially selected group of anonymous members, who then selected the top five records to gain a nomination in the category in a special ballot. The rest of the members then vote a winner from the five nominees. In 2018, it was announced the number of nominated tracks would be increased to eight. In 2021, it was announced that the Nomination Review Committees would be disbanded, and the final nominees for song of the year would be decided by votes from members. Starting in 2022, the number of nominees in the category increased to 10. However, the decision to expand the number of nominees in this category was made 24 hours before the nominees were announced after an early version of the nominations list had already been circulated. This allowed "Kiss Me More" by Doja Cat featuring SZA and "Right on Time" by Brandi Carlile to be nominated as they were the songs that received the most votes besides the other eight nominees. As of the 2024 ceremony, the number of nominees has been reduced back to eight.

## Recipients

    An asterisk (*) indicates this recording also won Record of the Year.
| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees | Ref |
| 1959 | Domenico Modugno | "Nel blu, dipinto di blu (Volare)" * | Domenico Modugno | Paul Vance & Lee Pockriss for "Catch a Falling Star" performed by Perry Como John Davenport & Eddie Cooley for "Fever" performed by Peggy Lee Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe for "Theme to Gigi" performed by Various Artists Cy Coleman & Carolyn Leigh for "Witchcraft" performed by Frank Sinatra | |

### 1960s

| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees |
| 1960 | Jimmy Driftwood | "The Battle of New Orleans" | Johnny Horton | Sammy Cahn & Jimmy Van Heusen for "High Hopes" performed by Frank Sinatra Karl Stutz & Edith Linderman for "I Know" performed by Perry Como Paul Francis Webster & André Previn for "Like Young" performed by André Previn Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim for "Small World" performed by Johnny Mathis |
| 1961 | Ernest Gold | "Theme of Exodus" | Instrumental (Various Artists) | Charles Randolph Grean, Joe Allison & Audrey Allison for "He'll Have to Go" performed by Jim Reeves Lew Spence, Marilyn Keith & Alan Bergman for "Nice 'n' Easy" performed by Frank Sinatra Sammy Cahn & Jimmy Van Heusen for "The Second Time Around" performed by Andy Williams Max Steiner for "Theme from A Summer Place" performed by Percy Faith |
| 1962 | Henry Mancini Johnny Mercer | "Moon River" * | Henry Mancini | Jimmy Dean for "Big Bad John" performed by Jimmy Dean Hank Cochran for "A Little Bitty Tear" performed by Burl Ives Tony Velona for "Lollipops and Roses" performed by Jack Jones Jule Styne, Betty Comden & Adolph Green for "Make Someone Happy" performed by Various Artists |
| 1963 | Leslie Bricusse Anthony Newley | "What Kind of Fool Am I?" | Sammy Davis Jr. | Lionel Bart for "As Long as He Needs Me" performed by Shirley Bassey Douglas Cross & George Cory for "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" performed by Tony Bennett John Kander & Fred Ebb for "My Coloring Book" performed by Sandy Stewart Richard Rodgers for "The Sweetest Sounds" performed by Various Artists |
| 1964 | Henry Mancini Johnny Mercer | "Days of Wine and Roses" * | Henry Mancini | Sammy Cahn & Jimmy Van Heusen for "Call Me Irresponsible" performed by Frank Sinatra Sacha Distel & Jack Reardon for "The Good Life" performed by Tony Bennett Sadie Vimmerstedt & Johnny Mercer for "I Wanna Be Around" performed by Tony Bennett Burt Bacharach & Hal David for "Wives and Lovers" performed by Jack Jones |
| 1965 | Jerry Herman | "Hello, Dolly!" | Louis Armstrong | John Lennon & Paul McCartney for "A Hard Day's Night" performed by The Beatles Henry Mancini, Ray Evans & Jay Livingston for "Dear Heart" performed by Andy Williams Jule Styne & Bob Merrill for "People" performed by Barbra Streisand Leslie Bricusse & Anthony Newley for "Who Can I Turn To?" performed by Tony Bennett |
| 1966 | Paul Francis Webster Johnny Mandel | "The Shadow of Your Smile" | Tony Bennett | Michel Legrand, Norman Gimbel & Jacques Demy for "I Will Wait for You" performed by Connie Francis Jimmy Van Heusen & Sammy Cahn for "The September of My Years" performed by Frank Sinatra John Lennon & Paul McCartney for "Yesterday" performed by The Beatles Roger Miller for "King of the Road" performed by Roger Miller |
| 1967 | John Lennon Paul McCartney | "Michelle" | The Beatles | John Barry & Don Black for "Born Free" performed by Various Artists Mitch Leigh & Joe Darion for "The Impossible Dream" performed by Richard Kiley Paul Francis Webster & Maurice Jarre for "Somewhere, My Love" performed by Ray Conniff Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton & Eddie Snyder for "Strangers in the Night" performed by Frank Sinatra |
| 1968 | Jimmy Webb | "Up, Up, and Away" * | The 5th Dimension | Jimmy Webb for "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" performed by Glen Campbell Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt for "My Cup Runneth Over" performed by Ed Ames Bobbie Gentry for "Ode to Billie Joe" performed by Bobbie Gentry John Hartford for "Gentle on My Mind" performed by Glen Campbell |
| 1969 | Bobby Russell | "Little Green Apples" | O. C. Smith | Tom T. Hall for "Harper Valley PTA" performed by Jeannie C. Riley John Lennon & Paul McCartney for "Hey Jude" performed by The Beatles Bobby Russell for "Honey" performed by Bobby Goldsboro Paul Simon for "Mrs. Robinson" performed by Simon & Garfunkel |

### 1970s

| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees |
| 1970 | Joe South | "Games People Play" | Joe South | Larry Kusik, Eddie Snyder & Nino Rota for "A Time For Us" performed by Henry Mancini David Clayton-Thomas for "Spinning Wheel" performed by Blood, Sweat & Tears Burt Bacharach & Hal David for "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" performed by Dionne Warwick Burt Bacharach & Hal David for "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" performed by B. J. Thomas |
| 1971 | Paul Simon | "Bridge over Troubled Water" * | Simon & Garfunkel | Ray Stevens for "Everything Is Beautiful" performed by Ray Stevens James Taylor for "Fire and Rain" performed by James Taylor John Lennon & Paul McCartney for "Let it Be" performed by The Beatles Roger Nichols & Paul Williams for "We've Only Just Begun" performed by The Carpenters |
| 1972 | Carole King | "You've Got a Friend" | James Taylor & Carole King | Kris Kristofferson for "Help Me Make It Through the Night" performed by Kris Kristofferson Sid Wayne & Armando Manzanero for "It's Impossible" performed by Perry Como Kris Kristofferson & Fred Foster for "Me and Bobby McGee" performed by Janis Joplin Joe South for "(I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden" performed by Lynn Anderson |
| 1973 | Ewan MacColl | "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" * | Roberta Flack | Gilbert O'Sullivan for "Alone Again (Naturally)" performed by Gilbert O'Sullivan Don McLean for "American Pie" performed by Don McLean Neil Diamond for "Song Sung Blue" performed by Neil Diamond Alan and Marilyn Bergman & Michel Legrand for "The Summer Knows" performed by Michel Legrand |
| 1974 | Norman Gimbel Charles Fox | "Killing Me Softly with His Song" * | Roberta Flack | Kenny O'Dell for "Behind Closed Doors" performed by Charlie Rich Stevie Wonder for "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" performed by Stevie Wonder Carly Simon for "You're So Vain" performed by Carly Simon Irwin Levine & L. Russell Brown for "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" performed by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando |
| 1975 | Alan and Marilyn Bergman Marvin Hamlisch | "The Way We Were" | Barbra Streisand | Gene McDaniels for "Feel Like Makin' Love" performed by Roberta Flack Jeff Barry & Peter Allen for "I Honestly Love You" performed by Olivia Newton-John David Nichtern for "Midnight at the Oasis" performed by Maria Muldaur Paul Williams & Ken Ascher for "You and Me Against the World" performed by Helen Reddy |
| 1976 | Stephen Sondheim | "Send In the Clowns" | Judy Collins | Janis Ian for "At Seventeen" performed by Janis Ian Morris Albert for "Feelings" performed by Morris Albert Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield for "Love Will Keep Us Together" performed by Captain & Tennille Larry Weiss for "Rhinestone Cowboy" performed by Glen Campbell |
| 1977 | Bruce Johnston | "I Write the Songs" | Barry Manilow | Bill Danoff for "Afternoon Delight" performed by Starland Vocal Band Neil Sedaka & Howard Greenfield for "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" performed by Neil Sedaka Leon Russell for "This Masquerade" performed by George Benson Gordon Lightfoot for "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" performed by Gordon Lightfoot |
| 1978 | Barbra Streisand Paul Williams | "Evergreen (Love Theme from A Star Is Born)" | Barbra Streisand | Richard Leigh for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" performed by Crystal Gayle Don Felder, Don Henley & Glenn Frey for "Hotel California" performed by the Eagles Marvin Hamlisch & Carole Bayer Sager for "Nobody Does It Better" performed by Carly Simon Allen Toussaint for "Southern Nights" performed by Glen Campbell |
| 1978 | Joe Brooks | "You Light Up My Life" | Debby Boone | Richard Leigh for "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" performed by Crystal Gayle Don Felder, Don Henley & Glenn Frey for "Hotel California" performed by the Eagles Marvin Hamlisch & Carole Bayer Sager for "Nobody Does It Better" performed by Carly Simon Allen Toussaint for "Southern Nights" performed by Glen Campbell |
| 1979 | Billy Joel | "Just the Way You Are" * | Billy Joel | Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb & Maurice Gibb for "Stayin' Alive" performed by Bee Gees Lionel Richie for "Three Times a Lady" performed by the Commodores Neil Diamond & Alan and Marilyn Bergman for "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" performed by Neil Diamond & Barbra Streisand Randy Goodrum for "You Needed Me" performed by Anne Murray |

### 1980s

| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees |
| 1980 | Kenny Loggins Michael McDonald | "What a Fool Believes" * | The Doobie Brothers | David Foster, Jay Graydon & Bill Champlin for "After the Love Has Gone" performed by Earth, Wind & Fire Rickie Lee Jones for "Chuck E.'s in Love" performed by Rickie Lee Jones Billy Joel for "Honesty" performed by Billy Joel Dino Fekaris & Freddie Perren for "I Will Survive" performed by Gloria Gaynor Lester Abrams & Michael McDonald for "Minute by Minute" performed by The Doobie Brothers Dino Fekaris & Freddie Perren for "Reunited" performed by Peaches & Herb Steve Gibb for "She Believes in Me" performed by Kenny Rogers |
| 1981 | Christopher Cross | "Sailing" * | Christopher Cross | Michael Gore & Dean Pitchford for "Fame" performed by Irene Cara Amanda McBroom for "The Rose" performed by Bette Midler Lionel Richie for "Lady" performed by Kenny Rogers John Kander & Fred Ebb for "Theme from New York, New York" performed by Frank Sinatra Barry Gibb & Robin Gibb for "Woman in Love" performed by Barbra Streisand |
| 1982 | Donna Weiss Jackie DeShannon | "Bette Davis Eyes" * | Kim Carnes | Peter Allen, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager & Christopher Cross for "Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)" performed by Christopher Cross Lionel Richie for "Endless Love" performed by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie Bill Withers, William Salter & Ralph MacDonald for "Just the Two of Us" performed by Grover Washington Jr. with Bill Withers Dolly Parton for "9 to 5" performed by Dolly Parton |
| 1983 | Johnny Christopher Mark James Wayne Carson | "Always on My Mind" | Willie Nelson | Paul McCartney for "Ebony and Ivory" performed by Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder David Paich for "Rosanna" performed by Toto Frankie Sullivan & Jim Peterik for "Eye of the Tiger" performed by Survivor Donald Fagen for "I.G.Y. (What a Beautiful World)" performed by Donald Fagen |
| 1984 | Sting | "Every Breath You Take" | The Police | Lionel Richie for "All Night Long (All Night)" performed by Lionel Richie Michael Jackson for "Beat It" performed by Michael Jackson Michael Jackson for "Billie Jean" performed by Michael Jackson Michael Sembello & Dennis Matkosky for "Maniac" performed by Michael Sembello |
| 1985 | Graham Lyle Terry Britten | "What's Love Got to Do with It" * | Tina Turner | Phil Collins for "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" performed by Phil Collins Lionel Richie for "Hello" performed by Lionel Richie Stevie Wonder for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" performed by Stevie Wonder Cyndi Lauper & Rob Hyman for "Time after Time" performed by Cyndi Lauper |
| 1986 | Michael Jackson Lionel Richie | "We Are the World" * | USA for Africa | Mark Knopfler & Sting for "Money for Nothing" performed by Dire Straits Don Henley & Mike Campbell for "The Boys of Summer" performed by Don Henley Daryl Hall for "Everytime You Go Away" performed by Paul Young Mick Jones for "I Want to Know What Love Is" performed by Foreigner |
| 1987 | Burt Bacharach Carole Bayer Sager | "That's What Friends Are For" | Dionne Warwick & Friends (Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder) | Peter Gabriel for "Sledgehammer" performed by Peter Gabriel Robert Palmer for "Addicted to Love" performed by Robert Palmer Steve Winwood & Will Jennings for "Higher Love" performed by Steve Winwood Paul Simon for "Graceland" performed by Paul Simon |
| 1988 | James Horner Barry Mann Cynthia Weil | "Somewhere Out There" | Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram | Ritchie Valens for "La Bamba" performed by Los Lobos Adam Clayton, David Evans, Larry Mullen, Jr. & Paul Hewson for "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" performed by U2 Suzanne Vega for "Luka" performed by Suzanne Vega Michael Masser & Will Jennings for "Didn't We Almost Have It All" performed by Whitney Houston |
| 1989 | Bobby McFerrin | "Don't Worry, Be Happy" * | Bobby McFerrin | Anita Baker, Skip Scarborough & Randy Holland for "Giving You the Best That I Got" performed by Anita Baker Tracy Chapman for "Fast Car" performed by Tracy Chapman Sting for "Be Still My Beating Heart" performed by Sting Brenda Russell, Jeff Hall & Scott Cutler for "Piano in the Dark" performed by Brenda Russell |

### 1990s

| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees |
| 1990 | Larry Henley Jeff Silbar | "Wind Beneath My Wings" * | Bette Midler | Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil & Tom Snow for "Don't Know Much" performed by Linda Ronstadt & Aaron Neville Don Henley & Bruce Hornsby for "The End of the Innocence" performed by Don Henley Billy Joel for "We Didn't Start the Fire" performed by Billy Joel Mike Rutherford & B. A. Robertson for "The Living Years" performed by Mike + The Mechanics |
| 1991 | Julie Gold | "From a Distance" | Bette Midler | Mariah Carey & Ben Margulies for "Vision of Love" performed by Mariah Carey Phil Collins for "Another Day in Paradise" performed by Phil Collins Prince for "Nothing Compares 2 U" performed by Sinéad O'Connor Chynna Phillips, Glen Ballard & Carnie Wilson for "Hold On" performed by Wilson Phillips |
| 1992 | Irving Gordon | "Unforgettable" * | Natalie Cole (With Nat King Cole) | Bryan Adams, Robert Lange & Michael Kamen for "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" performed by Bryan Adams Amy Grant & Keith Thomas for "Baby Baby" performed by Amy Grant Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe for "Losing My Religion" performed by R.E.M. Marc Cohn for "Walking in Memphis" performed by Marc Cohn |
| 1993 | Eric Clapton Will Jennings | "Tears in Heaven" * | Eric Clapton | Don Von Tress for "Achy Breaky Heart" performed by Billy Ray Cyrus Alan Menken & Howard Ashman for "Beauty and the Beast" performed by Celine Dion & Peabo Bryson k.d. lang & Ben Mink for "Constant Craving" performed by k.d. lang Wendy Waldman, Jon Lind & Phil Galdston for "Save the Best for Last" performed by Vanessa Williams |
| 1994 | Alan Menken Tim Rice | "A Whole New World" | Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle | Billy Joel for "The River of Dreams" performed by Billy Joel Jim Steinman for "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" performed by Meat Loaf Sting for "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" performed by Sting Neil Young for "Harvest Moon" performed by Neil Young |
| 1995 | Bruce Springsteen | "Streets of Philadelphia" | Bruce Springsteen | David Baerwald, Bill Bottrell, Wyn Cooper, Sheryl Crow & Kevin Gilbert for "All I Wanna Do" performed by Sheryl Crow Elton John & Tim Rice for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" performed by Elton John Elton John & Tim Rice for "Circle of Life" performed by Elton John Gary Baker & Frank J. Myers for "I Swear" versions performed by John Michael Montgomery & All-4-One |
| 1996 | Seal | "Kiss from a Rose" * | Seal | Eric Bazilian for "One of Us" performed by Joan Osborne Maribeth Derry, Sam Diamond & Jennifer Kimball for "I Can Love You Like That" versions performed by John Michael Montgomery & All-4-One R. Kelly for "You Are Not Alone" performed by Michael Jackson Glen Ballard & Alanis Morissette for "You Oughta Know" performed by Alanis Morissette |
| 1997 | Gordon Kennedy Wayne Kirkpatrick Tommy Sims | "Change the World" * | Eric Clapton | Tracy Chapman for "Give Me One Reason" performed by Tracy Chapman Diane Warren for "Because You Loved Me" performed by Celine Dion Bill Mack for "Blue" performed by LeAnn Rimes Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds for "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)" performed by Whitney Houston |
| 1998 | Shawn Colvin John Leventhal | "Sunny Came Home" * | Shawn Colvin | Eric Stefani & Gwen Stefani for "Don't Speak" performed by No Doubt Diane Warren for "How Do I Live" versions performed by LeAnn Rimes & Trisha Yearwood Paula Cole for "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" performed by Paula Cole R. Kelly for "I Believe I Can Fly" performed by R. Kelly |
| 1999 | James Horner Will Jennings | "My Heart Will Go On" * | Celine Dion | Diane Warren for "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" performed by Aerosmith John Rzeznik for "Iris" performed by The Goo Goo Dolls Kirk Franklin for "Lean on Me" performed by Kirk Franklin Robert Lange & Shania Twain for "You're Still the One" performed by Shania Twain |

### 2000s

| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees |
| 2000 | Itaal Shur Rob Thomas | "Smooth" * | Santana featuring Rob Thomas | Andreas Carlsson & Max Martin for "I Want It That Way" performed by Backstreet Boys Desmond Child & Robi Dräco Rosa for "Livin' la Vida Loca" performed by Ricky Martin Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins & Dallas Austin for "Unpretty" performed by TLC Shania Twain & Robert Lange for "You've Got a Way" performed by Shania Twain |
| 2001 | Adam Clayton David Evans Larry Mullen Jr. Paul Hewson | "Beautiful Day" * | U2 | Beyoncé Knowles, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, LeToya, LaTavia Roberson & Kelly Rowland for "Say My Name" performed by Destiny's Child Macy Gray, Jinsoo Lim, Jeremy Ruzumna & David Wilder for "I Try" performed by Macy Gray Stephanie Bentley & Holly Lamar for "Breathe" performed by Faith Hill Mark Sanders & Tia Sillers for "I Hope You Dance" performed by Lee Ann Womack |
| 2002 | Alicia Keys | "Fallin'" | Alicia Keys | India.Arie, Carlos "Six July" Broady & Shannon Sanders for "Video" performed by India.Arie Charlie Colin, Rob Hotchkiss, Patrick Monahan, Jimmy Stafford & Scott Underwood for "Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)" performed by Train Adam Clayton, David Evans, Larry Mullen, Jr. & Paul Hewson for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" performed by U2 Nelly Furtado for "I'm Like a Bird" performed by Nelly Furtado |
| 2003 | Jesse Harris | "Don't Know Why" * | Norah Jones | Vanessa Carlton for "A Thousand Miles" performed by Vanessa Carlton Avril Lavigne & The Matrix for "Complicated" performed by Avril Lavigne Bruce Springsteen for "The Rising" performed by Bruce Springsteen Alan Jackson for "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" performed by Alan Jackson |
| 2004 | Richard Marx Luther Vandross | "Dance with My Father" | Luther Vandross | Linda Perry for "Beautiful" performed by Christina Aguilera Avril Lavigne & The Matrix for "I'm with You" performed by Avril Lavigne Jorge Calderón & Warren Zevon for "Keep Me In Your Heart" performed by Warren Zevon Jeff Bass, M. Mathers & Luis Resto for "Lose Yourself" performed by Eminem |
| 2005 | John Mayer | "Daughters" | John Mayer | Alicia Keys for "If I Ain't Got You" performed by Alicia Keys Rhymefest & Kanye West for "Jesus Walks" performed by Kanye West Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman for "Live Like You Were Dying" performed by Tim McGraw Daniel Estrin & Douglas Robb for "The Reason" performed by Hoobastank |
| 2006 | Adam Clayton David Evans Larry Mullen Jr. Paul Hewson | "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" | U2 | Johntá Austin, Mariah Carey, Jermaine Dupri & Manuel Seal Jr. for "We Belong Together" performed by Mariah Carey Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna & Marcus Hummon for "Bless the Broken Road" performed by Rascal Flatts Bruce Springsteen for "Devils & Dust" performed by Bruce Springsteen John Legend & will.i.am for "Ordinary People" performed by John Legend |
| 2007 | Emily Robison Martie Maguire Natalie Maines Dan Wilson | "Not Ready to Make Nice" * | Dixie Chicks | Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry for "Be Without You" performed by Mary J. Blige James Blunt, Amanda Ghost & Sacha Skarbek for "You're Beautiful" performed by James Blunt John Beck, Steve Chrisanthou & Corinne Bailey Rae for "Put Your Records On" performed by Corinne Bailey Rae Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Gordie Sampson for "Jesus, Take the Wheel" performed by Carrie Underwood |
| 2008 | Amy Winehouse | "Rehab" * | Amy Winehouse | Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins for "Before He Cheats" performed by Carrie Underwood Tom Higgenson for "Hey There Delilah" performed by Plain White T's Corinne Bailey Rae for "Like a Star" performed by Corinne Bailey Rae Kuk Harrell, Shawn Carter, Christopher Stewart & The-Dream for "Umbrella" performed by Rihanna featuring Jay-Z |
| 2009 | Guy Berryman Jonny Buckland Will Champion Chris Martin | "Viva la Vida" | Coldplay | Estelle, Keith Harris, John Legend, Josh Lopez, Caleb Speir, Kanye West & will.i.am for "American Boy" performed by Estelle featuring Kanye West Adele Adkins & Eg White for "Chasing Pavements" performed by Adele Jason Mraz for "I'm Yours" performed by Jason Mraz Sara Bareilles for "Love Song" performed by Sara Bareilles |

### 2010s

| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees |
| 2010 | Thaddis Harrell Beyoncé Knowles Terius Nash Christopher Stewart | "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" | Beyoncé | Lady Gaga & RedOne for "Poker Face" performed by Lady Gaga Hod David & Musze for "Pretty Wings" performed by Maxwell Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill for "Use Somebody" performed by Kings of Leon Liz Rose & Taylor Swift for "You Belong with Me" performed by Taylor Swift |
| 2011 | Dave Haywood Josh Kear Charles Kelley Hillary Scott | "Need You Now" * | Lady Antebellum | Ray LaMontagne for "Beg Steal Or Borrow" performed by Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs Brody Brown, Cee Lo Green, Ari Levine, Philip Lawrence & Bruno Mars for "F**k You" performed by Cee Lo Green Tom Douglas & Allen Shamblin for "The House That Built Me" performed by Miranda Lambert Alexander Grant, Skylar Grey & Marshall Mathers for "Love the Way You Lie" performed by Eminem featuring Rihanna |
| 2012 | Adele Adkins Paul Epworth | "Rolling in the Deep" * | Adele | Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West for "All of the Lights" performed by Kanye West featuring Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie Ted Dwane, Ben Lovett, Marcus Mumford & Country Winston for "The Cave" performed by Mumford & Sons Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars & Andrew Wyatt for "Grenade" performed by Bruno Mars Justin Vernon for "Holocene" performed by Bon Iver |
| 2013 | Nate Ruess Jack Antonoff Jeff Bhasker Andrew Dost | "We Are Young" | Fun featuring Janelle Monáe | Ed Sheeran for "The A Team" performed by Ed Sheeran Miguel Pimentel for "Adorn" performed by Miguel Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay for "Call Me Maybe" performed by Carly Rae Jepsen Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi for "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" performed by Kelly Clarkson |
| 2014 | Joel Little Ella Yelich-O'Connor | "Royals" | Lorde | Jeff Bhasker, Pink & Nate Ruess for "Just Give Me a Reason" performed by Pink featuring Nate Ruess Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine & Bruno Mars for "Locked Out of Heaven" performed by Bruno Mars Lukasz Gottwald, Max Martin, Bonnie McKee, Katy Perry & Henry Walter for "Roar" performed by Katy Perry Ben Haggerty, Mary Lambert & Ryan Lewis for "Same Love" performed by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Mary Lambert |
| 2015 | James Napier William Phillips Sam Smith | "Stay with Me" * | Sam Smith | Andrew Hozier-Byrne for "Take Me to Church" performed by Hozier Sia Furler & Jesse Shatkin for "Chandelier" performed by Sia Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift for "Shake It Off" performed by Taylor Swift Kevin Kadish & Meghan Trainor for "All About That Bass" performed by Meghan Trainor |
| 2016 | Ed Sheeran Amy Wadge | "Thinking Out Loud" | Ed Sheeran | Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Anthony Spears & Pharrell Williams for "Alright" performed by Kendrick Lamar Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift for "Blank Space" performed by Taylor Swift Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna & Liz Rose for "Girl Crush" performed by Little Big Town Andrew Cedar, Justin Franks, Charles Puth & Cameron Thomaz for "See You Again" performed by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth |
| 2017 | Adele Adkins Greg Kurstin | "Hello" * | Adele | Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé Knowles & Michael Len Williams II for "Formation" performed by Beyoncé Mike Posner for "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" performed by Mike Posner Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran for "Love Yourself" performed by Justin Bieber Lukas Forchammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristorp for "7 Years" performed by Lukas Graham |
| 2018 | Christopher Brody Brown James Fauntleroy Philip Lawrence Bruno Mars Ray Charles McCullough II Jeremy Reeves Ray Romulus Jonathan Yip | "That's What I Like" | Bruno Mars | Ramón Ayala Rodríguez, Justin Bieber, Jason Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton Jr for "Despacito" performed by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson for "4:44" performed by Jay-Z Benjamin Levin, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter for "Issues" performed by Julia Michaels Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury, Khalid Robinson & Andrew Taggart for "1-800-273-8255" performed by Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid |
| 2019 | Donald Glover Ludwig Göransson Jeffery Lamar Williams | "This Is America" * | Childish Gambino | Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburg, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith for "All the Stars" performed by Kendrick Lamar & SZA Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane for "Boo'd Up" performed by Ella Mai Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib for "God's Plan" performed by Drake Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton for "In My Blood" performed by Shawn Mendes Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth for "The Joke" performed by Brandi Carlile Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski for "The Middle" performed by Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt for "Shallow" performed by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper |

### 2020s

| Year | Songwriter(s) | Work | Performing artist(s) | Nominees |
| 2020 | Billie Eilish O'Connell Finneas O'Connell | "Bad Guy" * | Billie Eilish | Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna for "Always Remember Us This Way" performed by Lady Gaga Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker for "Bring My Flowers Now" performed by Tanya Tucker Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris, H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins for "Hard Place" performed by H.E.R. Taylor Swift for "Lover" performed by Taylor Swift Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey for "Norman Fucking Rockwell" performed by Lana Del Rey Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pete Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman for "Someone You Loved" performed by Lewis Capaldi Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John for "Truth Hurts" performed by Lizzo |
| 2021 | Dernst Emile II H.E.R. Tiara Thomas | "I Can't Breathe" | H.E.R. | Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim "Kaydence" Krysiuk & Rickie "Caso" Tice for "Black Parade" performed by Beyoncé Samuel Gloade, Rodrick Moore, Adarius Moragne, Eric Sloan, Larrance Dopson & Khirye Anthony Tyler for "The Box" performed by Roddy Ricch Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift for "Cardigan" performed by Taylor Swift Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh for "Circles" performed by Post Malone Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren for "Don't Start Now" performed by Dua Lipa Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell for "Everything I Wanted" performed by Billie Eilish Julia Michaels & JP Saxe for "If the World Was Ending" performed by JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels |
| 2022 | Brandon Anderson Christopher Brody Brown Dernst Emile II Bruno Mars | "Leave the Door Open" * | Silk Sonic | Fred Gibson, Johnny McDaid & Ed Sheeran for "Bad Habits" performed by Ed Sheeran Ruby Amanfu, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Alicia Keys, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Linda Perry & Hailey Whitters for "A Beautiful Noise" performed by Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile Daniel Nigro & Olivia Rodrigo for "Drivers License" performed by Olivia Rodrigo Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas for "Fight for You" performed by H.E.R. Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell for "Happier Than Ever" performed by Billie Eilish Rogét Chahayed, Amala Zandile Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Carter Lang, Gerard A. Powell II, Solána Rowe & David Sprecher for "Kiss Me More" performed by Doja Cat featuring SZA Denzel Baptiste, David Biral, Omer Fedi, Montero Hill & Roy Lenzo for "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" performed by Lil Nas X Louis Bell, Justin Bieber, Giveon Dezmann Evans, Bernard Harvey, Felisha "Fury" King, Matthew Sean Leon, Luis Manuel Martinez Jr., Aaron Simmonds, Ashton Simmonds, Andrew Wotman & Keavan Yazdani for "Peaches" performed by Justin Bieber featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth for "Right on Time" performed by Brandi Carlile |
| 2023 | Bonnie Raitt | "Just Like That" | Bonnie Raitt | Sara Davis, Gayle & Dave Pittenger for "ABCDEFU" performed by Gayle Mellisa "Lizzo" Jefferson, Eric Frederic, Blake Slatkin & Theron Makiel Thomas for "About Damn Time" performed by Lizzo Liz Rose & Taylor Swift for "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film)" performed by Taylor Swift Tyler Johnson, Kid Harpoon & Harry Styles for "As It Was" performed by Harry Styles Matthew Castellanos, Britanny Fousheé, Diana Gordon, John Carroll Kirby & Steve Lacy for "Bad Habit" performed by Steve Lacy Beyoncé, S. Carter, Terius "The-Dream" Gesteelde-Diamant & Christopher A. Stewart for "Break My Soul" performed by Beyoncé Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin for "Easy on Me" performed by Adele Tarik Azzouz, E. Blackmon, Khaled Khaled, F. LeBlanc, Shawn Carter, John Stephens, Dwayne Carter, William Roberts & Nicholas Warwar for "God Did" performed by DJ Khaled featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar & Matt Schaeffer for "The Heart Part 5" performed by Kendrick Lamar |
| 2024 | Billie Eilish O'Connell Finneas O'Connell | "What Was I Made For?" | Billie Eilish | Jack Antonoff, Lana Del Rey & Sam Dew for "A&W" performed by Lana Del Rey Jack Antonoff & Taylor Swift for "Anti-Hero" performed by Taylor Swift Jon Batiste & Dan Wilson for "Butterfly" performed by Jon Batiste Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson & Andrew Wyatt for "Dance the Night" performed by Dua Lipa Miley Cyrus, Gregory Aldae Hein & Michael Pollack for "Flowers" performed by Miley Cyrus Rob Bisel, Carter Lang & Solána Rowe for "Kill Bill" performed by SZA Dan Nigro & Olivia Rodrigo for "Vampire" performed by Olivia Rodrigo |
| 2025 | Kendrick Lamar | "Not Like Us" * | Kendrick Lamar | Sean Cook, Collins Obinna Chibueze & Nevin Sastry for "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" performed by Shaboozey Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell for "Birds of a Feather" performed by Billie Eilish Dernst Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars & Andrew Watt, songwriters for "Die with a Smile" performed by Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars Jack Antonoff, Austin Post & Taylor Swift for "Fortnight" performed by Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Daniel Nigro & Justin Tranter for "Good Luck, Babe!" performed by Chappell Roan Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter for "Please Please Please" performed by Sabrina Carpenter Brian Bates, Beyoncé, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Atia Boggs, Megan Bülow, Nathan Ferraro & Raphael Saadiq for "Texas Hold 'Em" performed by Beyoncé |
* Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
* The performing artist is only listed but does not receive the award.

## Songwriters with multiple awards
### Two awards

* Adele
* Bono
* Brody Brown
* Adam Clayton
* D'Mile (consecutive)
* The Edge
* Billie Eilish
* James Horner
* Will Jennings
* Henry Mancini
* Bruno Mars
* Johnny Mercer
* Larry Mullen Jr.
* Finneas O'Connell

## Songwriters with multiple nominations
### 2 nominations

* Caroline Ailin
* Peter Allen
* Ruby Amanfu
* Johntá Austin
* Corinne Bailey Rae
* Glen Ballard
* Louis Bell
* Benny Blanco
* Leslie Bricusse
* Mariah Carey
* Tracy Chapman
* Lauren Christy
* Dave Cobb
* Phil Collins
* Christopher Cross
* Lana Del Rey
* Neil Diamond
* Dr. Luke
* The-Dream
* Fred Ebb
* Graham Edwards
* Eminem
* Dino Fekaris
* Eric Fredericks
* Barry Gibb
* Robin Gibb
* Norman Gimbel
* Howard Greenfield
* Marvin Hamlisch
* Kuk Harrell
* James Horner
* Rodney Jerkins
* Elton John
* John Kander
* Josh Kear
* R. Kelly
* Kris Kristofferson
* Carter Lang
* Avril Lavigne
* Michel Legrand
* Dua Lipa
* Lizzo
* Post Malone
* Barry Mann
* Michael McDonald
* Alan Menken
* Julia Michaels
* Anthony Newley
* Freddie Perren
* Linda Perry
* Ricky Reed
* Olivia Rodrigo
* Mark Ronson
* Nate Ruess
* Bobby Russell
* Neil Sedaka
* Shellback
* Eddie Snyder
* Stephen Sondheim
* Sounwave
* Joe South
* Scott Spock
* Tiara Thomas
* Justin Tranter
* Shania Twain
* Jimmy Webb
* Cynthia Weil
* will.i.am
* Dan Wilson
* Stevie Wonder