Diane Warren’s Oscar Quest: Why the Legendary Songwriter Remains an Awards-Season Underdog

Diane Warren is a name synonymous with Hollywood’s most memorable songs. With 17 Academy Award nominations—as of March 11, 2026—she holds the record for the most nominations without a win in the Best Original Song category. Despite a career spanning decades and a catalog filled with hits, an Oscar has remained elusive. This year, she’s again in contention for “Dear Me” from the documentary Relentless, a film about her own life and work. But will 2026 finally be her year?

A History of Near Misses

Warren’s songwriting credits read like a who’s who of pop and film. She penned iconic tracks like “How Do I Live” (Con Air) and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (Armageddon), songs that defined a generation. Her nominations began in 1987 with “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from Mannequin, and continued with a string of potential winners in the 1990s, including “Because You Loved Me” with Celine Dion (1996), “How Do I Live” with Trisha Yearwood (1997), and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” with Aerosmith (1998).

However, she faced stiff competition each time. “How Do I Live” lost to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Move On” from Titanic, and “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was beaten by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey’s “When You Believe” from The Prince of Egypt. As musicology professor Nate Sloan of USC’s Thornton School of Music notes, sometimes the category is simply stacked with strong contenders.

The Formula for Oscar Success

Experts suggest a pattern in the Best Original Song category. According to Jon Burlingame, a professor who teaches screen scoring at USC’s Thornton School of Music, winners often fall into two categories: “big popular music names” writing songs for films, or standout songs from musicals or animated features. Recent examples include Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie (2024), Elton John’s “Love Me Again” from Rocketman (2020), and Lady Gaga’s “Shallow” from A Star Is Born (2019).

The presence of a popular artist can give a song an edge, as Academy voters may be swayed by name recognition or a desire to appear “hip.” Bob Dylan’s Oscar win for a song from Wonder Boys in 2000 is cited as an example of this phenomenon. Musicals and animated films as well have a strong track record, with Disney dominating the category in the early 1990s.

Why Warren Hasn’t Won Yet

Warren’s style, known for its power ballads and emotive lyrics, may be falling out of favor with contemporary tastes. Sloan suggests that the “sound of movie music is moving further away from what she does,” and that the sweeping love songs she excels at feel somewhat dated in the current musical landscape.

This year, the odds are stacked against her. “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters has emerged as the frontrunner, dominating awards season and checking the “hit song from a musical” box. While not attached to a superstar, its widespread popularity gives it a significant advantage.

Could a “Sympathy Oscar” Be in Her Future?

Despite the challenges, some believe Warren could eventually receive an honorary Oscar, recognizing her prolific career and contributions to the industry. Composer and songwriter Randy Newman received 16 nominations before winning in 2009 for “If I Didn’t Have You” from Monsters, Inc—a win many felt was overdue.

Burlingame suggests a similar scenario could play out for Warren, “if she writes a song that’s associated with a big movie and has a big hit on the radio.” However, as Sloan points out, Warren’s career has shifted away from collaborations with pop stars, making such a scenario less likely.

While an Oscar win remains elusive, Diane Warren’s legacy as one of Hollywood’s most prolific and respected songwriters is secure. Whether she will ever break her losing streak remains to be seen, but her continued presence at the Academy Awards is a testament to her enduring talent and influence.