Diane Warren assembled superstar debut album during lockdown

After a wildly successful career as a songwriter, the pandemic prompted Diane Warren to try a different approach to music

LONDON -- If there was an award for not winning awards, Diane Warren would have won it. The recording artist/songwriter is the most nominated woman in the history of the Academy Awards, and has lost out on the trophy 12 times — or as she puts it, she has “12 no Oscar Awards.” Warren is releasing her debut album Friday, with collaborations from friends old and new, including Celine Dion, John Legend, Ty Dolla Sign plus a bringing together of rapper G-Eazy and guitar legend Santana. She said the pandemic spurred her on, working alone in her studio with no distractions. She adds “no one was bothering me, all I did was annoy myself.” Another benefit of working during lockdown meant it was easy to track down her collaborators: “Yeah, don’t tell me you’re too busy to get on a Zoom, come on. You’re sitting in your house, too,” she said, smiling.