17 Oscar Nods, No Wins: Can Diane Warren Break Her Streak?
Diane Warren has been nominated for Best Original Song 17 times but has never won an Academy Award, a streak that will either end or be extended at the Academy Awards on Sunday. This year she is nominated for “Dear Me, ” a song from Relentless, a documentary about Warren herself.
Diane Warren’s Long Oscar Losing Streak
Warren’s run of nominations without a win has drawn attention because it contrasts with a body of work that includes widely known movie songs. She has written songs such as “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” and “How Do I Live, ” and her 17 nominations are taken as evidence that her peers repeatedly recognize her work even as the prize has eluded her.
How Academy Voters Have Favored Songs
Observers of the Best Original Song category note patterns in recent winners. Winners in the past quarter-century have often been songs written by big popular music names for films, and pop stars can carry influence with voters. Examples of recent wins that fit that pattern include Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” in 2024; Eilish’s earlier Song of the Year prominence; the Bond theme “No Time to Die”; Elton John’s “Love Me Again” for Rocketman in 2020; and Lady Gaga’s “Shallow” from A Star Is Born in 2019. Commentators have pointed out that some voters may be eager to be seen as hip or to reward a major name, and there have been moments when a well-known songwriter’s involvement appeared to sway sentiment.
This Year’s Field And What’s At Stake
Warren’s current nomination for “Dear Me” comes from a film that is a documentary about her life and work. The season’s awards conversation has also highlighted other contenders; one song referenced as having dominated awards season is KPop Demon Hunters’ “Golden. ” If Warren does not win this year, her record will remain at 0 for 17, a run described as one of the longest losing streaks in the history of the Oscars for the Best Original Song category.
The question facing voters and observers is why an often-nominated songwriter with several landmark movie hits has not secured a win. Part of the explanation offered by commentators is that the category rewards certain kinds of alignment—high-profile pop names, songs tied to perceived “Oscar bait” films, or moments when voters want to acknowledge a major figure. Whether those dynamics will help break Warren’s streak remains to be decided at the ceremony on Sunday.
What happens onstage will determine whether the narrative shifts: either Diane Warren will take home the Oscar and end a long run of near-misses, or the pattern of nominations without a win will continue.
