Maine native Amy Allen has her first No. 1 hit as a songwriter.
The Los Angeles songwriter tells the Portland Press Herald she's "through-the-roof excited'' that a song she co-wrote, "Without Me'' by Halsey, reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 pop music chart this week.
Allen grew up in Windham and graduated from Waynflete School in Portland. She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she took a songwriting class taught by former "American Idol'' judge Kara DioGuardi. In Boston, she formed a band that got her songs noticed.
The past year was good to Allen.
She co-wrote the "Back to You'' by Selena Gomez and "When You're Ready'' on Shawn Mendes' self-titled album. The latter album is nominated for a Grammy in the pop vocal album category.
