Diane Warren chatted about her record-breaking 16th career Oscar nomination for “Best Original Song,” and her new documentary “Relentless,” which sums up her life and career.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once said: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” This quote applies to Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee Diane Warren.
Diane Warren is now the most nominated Oscar individual without a win
Warren tied the record for the most nominated individual without a win, regardless of a category — in 2025, she earned her 16th Oscar nomination in the “Best Original Song” category for “The Journey” from the movie “The Six Triple Eight,” which was written and directed by Tyler Perry… this puts her in a tie with recording mixer Greg P. Russell.
“It feels great to be nominated,” Warren said. “I am hoping that maybe this time is the time. You never know.”
“It would be great to finally win. Being nominated really is winning. I am just happy to hear my song called. I made the shortest shortlist once again,” she added.
Diane Warren — The 2023 Honorary Oscar recipient
Ms. Warren did win the Honorary Oscar in 2023, but she has yet to win an Oscar in a competitive category. She was recognized “for her genius, generosity and passionate commitment to the power of song in film.”
Working with H.E.R. on ‘The Journey’
On working with H.E.R. on “The Journey,” Warren said, “Gabi is one of the best artists I’ve ever worked with. I first met her when she was 14, and we hadn’t worked together since then.”
Warren continued, “Gabi texted me saying ‘I think it’s time for us to work together’ and I had just written ‘The Journey.’ I told her to come down to the studio because I had something to play for her. I played it for her, and she recorded it basically that same hour.”
“Four hours later, Gabi had done the guitars and the piano, and she sang the s**t out of the song. She sang one of the best vocals I had ever heard on ‘The Journey’. Where she took it vocally was just incredible. She went back to New York and produced the record,” Warren explained.
“Our journey together, me and Gabi, from when she was 14 to reuniting now, that was a journey in itself,” Warren attested.
“The song has different levels. Of course, it’s the theme of these amazing women of ‘The Six Triple Eight’ battalion. That song was so perfect in the movie. It really reflects the resilience of these women,” she noted.
“Outside of the movie, this song can mean that we are all on our own journeys. The song is resonating with people on so many levels,” she added.
Warren breaks Marilyn Bergman’s record as the most nominated woman for a ‘Best Original Song’ Oscar
According to VegasInsider, Warren broke out of her tie with Marilyn Bergman, and she is now the most nominated woman in the “Best Original Song Category” — Warren earned her 16th nomination in 2025, while Bergman had 15 nominations in that category.
“That is crazy,” she admitted. “Marilyn and Alan Bergman are two great songwriters.”
Additional Oscar records Diane Warren has set this year
Warren increased her record as the most nominated individual without a win in the “Best Original Song” Category – Warren earned her 16th nomination in 2025.
In addition, Warren tied a long-standing record of Sammy Cahn, and now they share the record for the most consecutive nominations in the “Best Original Song” category — eight years — Cahn was nominated consecutively between 1955 and 1962, and Warren has been nominated every year since the 2018 Academy Awards ceremony, making 2025 her eighth consecutive nomination.
“Wow… eight years in a row,” she exclaimed. “I was excited about this last Oscar nomination. I stayed up all night waiting for the announcements in my ‘sleepless sleepover’.”
Receiving the Johnny Mercer Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame
In June of 2024, Warren was recognized with the prestigious “Johnny Mercer Award,” which is the highest honor bestowed by Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“Songwriting is the power to sit down by myself and write something great,” Warren said. “I really work very hard on every song.”
New documentary ‘Relentless’
Warren also opened up about her new documentary “Relentless.” Directed by Bess Kargman, “Relentless” is the untold story of a iconic songwriter. It features interviews from Cher, Common, Jennifer Hudson, Gloria Estefan, Kesha, and LeAnn Rimes, among others.
“The experience filming this documentary was cool, and it has a great song in there by Kesha called ‘Dear Me.’ It’s a great record and I love it,” Warren said.
Stage of her life
On the title of the current chapter of her life, Warren revealed, “The relentless journey.”
Lessons learned from ‘The Journey’
On the lessons learned from “The Journey,” Warren reflected, “This song taught me that I am somebody who doesn’t give up. I am a lot like those women of ‘The Six Triple Eight’ battalion.”
“My whole life’s mission is ‘to never give up’ and ‘to never take no for an answer’ and to prove people wrong. ‘The Journey’ is really the theme song for that. It is always fun to prove people wrong,” Warren concluded.
“The Journey” by H.E.R. is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
For more information on 16-time Academy Award nominee Diane Warren, check out her official website, and follow her on Instagram and X.
