Diane Warren, renowned for her songwriting prowess, is vying for her 16th Oscar nomination with the track “The Journey” from Tyler Perry’s forthcoming war film, The Six Triple Eight. The movie, featuring Kerry Washington, will debut on Netflix and recounts the inspiring tale of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the first all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit deployed overseas during World War II.
This battalion played a vital role by clearing a massive backlog of undelivered mail, ensuring that American soldiers stationed abroad received their correspondence despite the racial prejudice and challenges they faced.
“The Journey,” written by Warren and performed by H.E.R., serves as a homage to those who overcome formidable obstacles, echoing the struggles and achievements of the 6888th Battalion.
Although the song was released as a single last year, it remains eligible for an Oscar nomination in the Best Original Song category because it was crafted specifically for the film. Historically, songs like “In the Deep” from Crash (2005) and “Falling Slowly” from Once (2007) have garnered nominations even after their initial release.
Warren, despite having 15 Oscar nominations and no wins, has built an illustrious career with entries such as “Because You Loved Me” from Up Close & Personal (1996) and “How Do I Live” from Con Air (1997). She has been nominated every year for the past seven years and has received an Emmy, a Grammy, and two Golden Globes.
In 2001, she was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recently received the Johnny Mercer Award. Last year, Warren was honored with an Honorary Oscar alongside Peter Weir, Euzhan Palcy, and Michael J. Fox. Bess Kargman’s documentary Diane Warren: Relentless, which delves into her life, premiered at SXSW in March.
H.E.R., who performed at the Olympics Closing Ceremony in Paris, previously won an Oscar for co-writing “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah (2021). Her career also includes five Grammy wins, outstandingly for best traditional R&B performance for “Fight for You” and song of the year for “I Can’t Breathe.”