Songwriter Diane Warren loses original song Oscar for the 16th time

<p>Warren, 68, lost out to the song El Mal from Emilia Pérez</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/02/oscars-anora-picture-actress-mikey-madison-sean-baker">Anora dominates the Oscars</a> — here’s the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/02/oscars-academy-awards-winners-live">complete list of winners</a></li></ul><p>The songwriter Diane Warren has continued her record-breaking streak of losses at the 97th Academy Awards with a defeat in the best song category. The winners were the married composer Clément Ducol and singer-songwriter Camille for El Mal from Emilia Pérez.</p><p>Warren, 68, had been in contention for the song The Journey, from Tyler Perry’s Netflix film <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/dec/22/the-six-triple-eight-review-black-womens-6888-postal-battalion-second-world-war-tyler-perry-kerry-washington">The Six Triple Eight</a>, about the all-Black, all-female 6,888th battalion during the second world war.</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/02/oscars-anora-picture-actress-mikey-madison-sean-baker">Anora</a> takes home best picture Oscar</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/adrien-brody-oscar-best-actor-brutalist">Adrien Brody</a> and<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/mikey-madison-oscar-best-actress-anora"> Mikey Madison</a> win best acting prizes</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/kieran-culkin-oscar-actor-a-real-pain">Kieran Culkin</a> and<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/zoe-saldana-best-supporting-actress-oscar-emilia-perez"> Zoe Saldaña</a> win supporting awards</p><p>Anora’s Sean Baker wins for<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/oscar-sean-baker-best-director-anora"> directing</a>, editing and<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/oscar-sean-baker-best-original-screenplay-anora"> screenplay</a></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/oscars-diane-warren-best-song">Continue reading...</a>