Diane Warren Speaks Out, Says “Put All The Songs On Or None Of Us” After Oscar Producers Ax 3 Nominated Songs From Live Performance

EXCLUSIVE: Producers of the 98th annual Academy Awards have decided to feature only two of the five Original Song Oscar nominees this year on the telecast.

In a letter to representatives and/or nominees Thursday, those affected were told about the decision. “The show also will feature musical moments that celebrate two films whose songs have played a defining role in their global cultural impact and audience connection this year. Given the limited time within the broadcast, the addition of our Casting Oscar, and a desire to create a fast-paced, entertaining and cohesive a show, the live performance focus will be concentrated on two musical moments this year, SINNERS and KPOP DEMON HUNTERS, with segments designed to honor how music helped these stories resonate worldwide,” the letter explained.

This means only “Golden” from KPop: Demon Hunters, the No. 1 smash hit phenomenon, and “I Lied To You” from the leading nominated film Sinners, have been chosen by producers to be invited to be performed live on the show.

Not invited are the other three nominees: “Sweet Dreams of Joy,” an aria from the opera documentary Viva Verdi; “Train Dreams”, the end-credits song added after Netflix picked up the Sundance debut of Train Dreams; and “Dear Me,” the personal song written by Diane Warren for her documentary Diane Warren: Relentless. The latter represents the 17th nomination in the category for Warren, and her ninth consecutive nomination. She is also the only songwriter to have received an Honorary Oscar, awarded in 2022.

Instead, the Academy is promising the other three songs they will be covered on the show through a “bespoke package,” with footage from the film “grounding the song in its cinematic purpose” and also possible “select behind-the-scenes elements that offer insights into the songwriting process,” the letter reads (read the full letter below). This was done last year when the Academy announced on the eve of Oscar nominations that none of the (then unknown) nominated songs would be performed live.

This year there was no such announcement, and as I wrote in my analysis of the nominees January 22, sources close to the show had told me they did plan to have the songs performed and mentioned excitement additionally for shortlisted songs from the likes of superstars Miley Cyrus, Billy Idol and Ed Sheeran, not to mention the possibility of two new songs from Wicked: For Good that could bring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande back to the Oscar stage after they opened the broadcast last year. None of those songs turned out to be nominated, but you can probably place a safe bet that had they been, the “time constraints” issue noted in the letter to this year’s nominees probably would not have been a factor.

Warren isn’t buying it, as she told me in an exclusive phone conversation this morning.

“It is unfair to me and my fellow nominees because you just excluded three songs and chose two. It is my fellow artists who deserve the respect which comes from a nomination, right? Here is how I look at it. Put all the songs on. It is all of us or none of us, and that is what it should be,” she said.

She added that it is especially egregious since it comes before members get their final ballots in a few weeks.

“And before voting? What is all that about? You are supposed to be fair to all artists. Can I tell you what I did a few years back in the exact situation. The year Gaga was nominated for “Shallow,” and it was Gaga and Kendrick Lamar (for “All the Stars” from Black Panther), right? They were just gonna do those two and I was nominated for my song , “I’ll Fight” with Jennifer Hudson, and of course everybody was mad. The next day the producer called me and said, ‘Well we do want your song and Jennifer Hudson (to perform). And I said ‘Well my friend Marc Shaiman with the Mary Poppins song and the other people, I said ‘Well hell no. if the other two songs aren’t on I don’t want to be on the show. I took a stand, and to be fair so did Gaga. Gaga as an artist said ‘No, we aren’t going to be on if the other songs aren’t performing.’ And you know what? They put the other songs on.”

Warren says she hopes that might be the case again. “That is honestly what should happen with the other performers (this year). It is basically like crossing a picket line. I wouldn’t do it. If they came to me right now and said ‘You know what? We want you and Kesha (who recorded “Dear Me” for the film) on the show but we don’t want Nick Pike and the opera song or “Train Dreams,” I would say ‘No, I won’t do that.’ I did it once and stood up. It is up to these other performers. We all are legitimately nominated and to make a choice like that and throw the other songs under the bus is wrong. I am speaking for me of course, but I feel I am also speaking for the other nominees. It is wrong.”

Warren is upset about highlighting just those two films who, as the letter states, are “films whose songs have played a defining role in their global cultural impact and audience connection this year.” She points out her own song about her long journey to make it in the music business is just as integral, and also the song from Viva Verdi!, a documentary all about opera. “Who are they to make a judgment call as to what song is integral to what story? If you don’t take all the songs off it is just unfair to all the others. What matters is we were all nominated. If you are going to have any songs, take all of them or take all of them the f*ck off.”

Asked if she would participate in an interview about her song, should the Academy offer? “Why would I participate? Why even bother, sit and talk about what I felt and they use a few seconds. This year I got my 17^th nomination so in terms of the Academy Awards, what a diss. But again it is not just me. I want to emphasize I am speaking for everybody. It’s for my fellow nominees really who deserve the respect as fellow artists. All of us or none of us. I would hope these other performers would do what Gaga did or I did. And doing this before voting. Aren’t we supposed to be non-exclusionary (in the Academy). It is sending the message that these songs don’t matter, including mine.”

Deadline has reached out to the Academy for comment and will update if we get one.

Below is the letter sent by the Oscar producers Thursday.

This year, the Best Original Song nominees are being treated with the same care,
storytelling focus, and intention as the other awards categories — all of which will be
included on the show.

Each nominated song will be introduced through a bespoke package built from footage
of the film it was written for, grounding the song firmly in its cinematic purpose. Where
appropriate, these packages may also include select behind-the-scenes elements that
offer insight into the songwriting process and creative intent. We will be in touch with
you soon to discuss how we would like to work with you on this. In addition, we will be
promoting your nomination on our social channels — as we just did with our recent
Spotify post and our nominations announcement.

The show also will feature musical moments that celebrate two films whose songs have
played a defining role in their global cultural impact and audience connection this year.
Given the limited time within the broadcast, the addition of our Casting Oscar, and a
desire to create a fast-paced, entertaining and cohesive a show, the live performance
focus will be concentrated on two musical moments this year, SINNERS and KPOP
DEMON HUNTERS, with segments designed to honor how music helped these stories
resonate worldwide.

Your work is an integral part of our cinematic ecosystem, and we so look forward to
honoring it on the show. This years Oscars is going to be incredible, and we are thrilled
that you are a key part of it. These are complex decisions, so please feel free to call
with any questions.

Best, 

Raj Kapoor, Executive Producer
Katy Mullan, Executive Producer
Taryn Hurd, Producer