Will ‘The Journey’ To Oscar Nomination #16 End In A Win For Diane Warren? [VIDEO]

Diane Warren has penned power ballads, smash hits, and anthems for mega-watt artists like Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Cher, Whitney Houston, and Lady Gaga to name just a few. She’s responsible for nine #1 and thirty-three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and is tied for penning the most #1 songs as a sole writer in Billboard history. She’s a Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee (2001) and has received a Grammy, Emmy and two Golden Globe Awards.

In the last five decades her songs have been featured in over 150 films, netting her 15 Oscar nominations in the process. Two years ago, she received an Honorary Academy Award, the first songwriter to be bestowed such an accolade. But she’s never won a competitive Oscar.

This year, she has, once again, made the short list.

Her nominated songs include, “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now,” from Mannequin (1987) sung by Starship, “Because You Loved Me,” from Up Close and Personal (1996), sung by Celine Dion, How Do I Live” from Con Air (1997), sung by Trisha Yearwood or Leanne Rimes (depending on your mood), “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” from Armageddon (1998), sung by Aerosmith, “Io is (Seen)” from The Life Ahead (2020), sung by Laura Pausini and the chilling “Til It Happens To You” from The Hunting Ground (2015), sung by Lady Gaga—that she co-wrote and which shockingly lost.

Another nomination is likely this year since she’s a perennial, nabbing seven consecutive nods. That’s right,  the “relentless” Diane Warren may finally “Win the bugger outright,” to quote the late, great Peter O’Toole who unconscionably lost 8 times.

Warren is in contention for “The Journey,” a poignant and uplifting ballad, sung by H.E.R. (Gabriella Wilson) for the popular Netflix film, The Six Triple Eight, written and directed by Tyler’s Perry and inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WW2. The riveting film deals with the racism and sexism these patriotic women had to endure while they committed themselves to a seeming impossible mission.

The song plays over the final credits when we see images of the real women of the Corps then and today. It’s powerful stuff.

The Six Triple Eight is currently streaming on Netflix.

Also, in theaters on January 10, 2025, is Bess Kargman’s revealing doc, Diane Warren: Relentless, which begins streaming on MasterClass January 16, 2025.

The Contending had the pleasure of a Zoom chat with the songwriter extraordinaire about her work, the film, and that elusive competitive Oscar.