Of the dozens of songs that were written for 2025 films, just 15 are still in contention to win the Academy Award for best original song.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences released its shortlist of 15 songs on Tuesday (Dec. 16). It includes one of the year’s biggest global hits, “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, and two songs each from two films – Sinners (“I Lied to You” and “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)”) and Wicked: For Good (The Girl in the Bubble” and “No Place Like Home”).
The list includes five stars who have topped the Billboard Hot 100 as artists – Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Billy Idol, Ed Sheeran and EJAE from HUNTR/X. Cyrus and Ronson are among the writers of “Dream as One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash. Idol is among the writers of “Dying to Live” from Billy Idol Should Be Dead. Sheeran co-wrote “Drive” from F1: The Movie. EJAE co-wrote “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters.
Diane Warren secured her usual position on the shortlist with “Dear Me” from the aptly titled documentary about her career, Diane Warren: Relentless. This keeps her hopes alive of becoming the first songwriter in Oscar history to land nine consecutive nominations in that category. She is currently tied with the late Sammy Cahn with eight consecutive nominations each.
Members of the music branch culled this shortlist of 15 songs from a master list of 65 eligible songs. They will vote again to determine the five nominees, which will be announced on Thursday, Jan. 22. The full membership of the Academy will vote to determine the winner, which will be announced when the 98th Oscars are presented at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on Sunday, March 15.
But why wait? We’re asking our readers to weigh in: Which of these 15 shortlisted songs would you most like to see win the Oscar?
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