Diane Warren received an honorary Oscar this year – but holds the record in the original song category for most nominations without a single win. Yet the songwriter doesn’t seem bitter about it — and actually has a sense of humor about the dubious honor. (“I got f—ed by James Bond twice,” she joked.) Now, she’s back with her 14th career nom for the track “Applause” from the movie “Tell It Like a Woman.”
In this episode of the award-winning Variety Awards Circuit podcast, we sit down with Warren to talk about her incredible career as a songwriter, working with the likes of Cher, Lady Gaga, and Aerosmith. Discussing the times she thought she would win, “Who beat Diane?” The game plays. Listen below. Warren had a pizza party at his house the night before the nominations were announced.
“Applause” performer Sofia Carson was among those in attendance, who played games, and Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams anxiously awaited the announcement of the Academy’s selections Tuesday morning. When former AMPAS president David Rubin called Warren in June to tell her she was receiving an honorary Oscar, she didn’t hesitate to share his excitement.
After 14 Oscars in her career, Warren said she expected to win twice: “Because You Loved Me” from “Up Close & Personal” (1996) and “Hunting Ground” from “The Till It Happens to You” (2015). She co-wrote the song with Lady Gaga, who was nominated this year for “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick.” “It’s never been less exciting,” Warren said.
“Every time I’m nominated, it feels like a win,” says Warren, who says she still dreams of winning a competitive Oscar one day and hates disrespecting any of her peers who have won or been nominated. “Fuck you,” she said. “There is no real way. You’ve been up all night. Your agent did not call you. You can’t sleep like me. I hate it when they say they use it for a doorstop or something like that. That is very rude. It’s from your peers. It is a great honor.
” In this episode of the Awards Circuit podcast, “Elvis” D.P. Mandy Walker discusses her nomination for Best Cinematography, making her the third woman to be nominated in that category. Walker discusses capturing the tender and musical moments of the Baz Luhrmann biopic starring Austin Butler and Tom Hanks. Finally, the Awards Circuit Roundtable reacts to this year’s Oscar nominations and some snubs and surprises, including Paul Mescall for Best Actor, Andrea Riseborough for Best Actress, and some of the year’s most popular Best Picture lineups.
Variety’s “Awards Circuit” podcast, produced by Michael Schneider and co-hosted by Clayton Davis, is your one-stop listen to lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each week the “Awards Circuit” features interviews with top film and TV talent and creatives; discussions and debates about awards races and industry highlights; Not only this. Subscribe to Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you download podcasts. New episodes are posted every week.
