Diane Warren is a music legend. You may not recognize her name, but you absolutely know her music. She’s written hits for nearly 40 years, many of which have been on the soundtracks to beloved movies. This year Warren nabbed her 16th Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, making her the most-nominated woman in the category (Sammy Cahn and Johnny Mercer edge her out with 26 and 18 noms, respectively). But “The Journey,” the song she penned for The Six Triple Eight, did not win last Sunday night, once again cementing Warren’s status as always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Yes, 16 nominations and she’s lost every one! The Academy awarded Warren an honorary Oscar in 2022, which she appreciates, but dammit she wants to win one competitively! Just hours after losing, Warren was telling reporters that she’d be back to try again. Or as she put it, “You can’t get rid of me.”

Diane Warren won’t give up on her dream of winning an Oscar.

The legendary songwriter, 68, who was nominated — and lost — for the 16th time at the 2025 Academy Awards revealed that going home empty-handed again won’t stop her from trying to bring home a gold statue in the future.

“I’m consistent as f—,” Warren told Variety at the Vanity Fair red carpet in Beverly Hills on Sunday, March 2. “You know, it is what it is. I’m happy to be here.”

She added: “I’m the Terminator of the Oscars — I’ll be back. That’s in my Arnold Schwarzenegger voice. I’m coming back. You can’t get rid of me.”

Warren also revealed she’d be back to work the following day.

“This isn’t going to slow me down…I thought I had a chance this time. It didn’t go that way, but I’m still here,” said the “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” songwriter.

At the 2025 Oscars, Warren was nominated for best original song for “Journey” — performed by H.E.R. — from the Netflix film The Six Triple Eight. It was her eighth consecutive nomination.

Ahead of the awards show, Warren told Entertainment Weekly that “Journey” was her most award-worthy yet.

“This would be definitely the most deserving to me,” she said. There’s been a couple, back in the day. But honestly, it sounds really cliché, but it’s not a cliché, because it is an amazing honor to be nominated.”

Added Warren: “They only choose five songs, and then you’re chosen by your peers, who are the best of the best. You just hope that people listen to the song. If they listen to this one, it’s a pretty good song. I’m really proud of it.”

Speaking with Variety, Warren also admitted that she wanted there to be performances of the best original song nominees at this year’s event.

“It would have been nice to hear the songs,” said the “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” songwriter.

[From People]

The Terminator of the Oscars? I’d say she’s more like the Susan Lucci of Oscars! And like La Lucci, Diane Warren will win at some point, I’m sure. Not to get too listicle, but I’m a nerd and had to look up every song she was nominated for, and what won instead that year. First of all, just the snapshot of those 16 songs was testament to the impact she’s had on popular music. I promise I won’t list them all, but here are a few I found noteworthy: Her first nomination was in 1988 for “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (Mannequin), and she lost to “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” (Dirty Dancing). I’d say that was a fair loss, yes? The next nomination was in 1997 for “Because You Loved Me,” (Up Close & Personal), which lost to “You Must Love Me” (Evita). Which song do you remember? Nuf said. In 1998 “How Do I Live” (Con Air) lost to “My Heart Will Go On.” Two great songs! But nothing was gonna stop Titanic that year. So my vote for loss-that-should’ve-been-a-win is her 1999 nomination for “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (Armageddon). It lost to “When You Believe,” which I don’t even think is the best song from its own film, The Prince of Egypt.

And those are just four examples! Check out the full list at Billboard.

Photos credit: Avalon.red