Diane Warren is disappointed 'Dear Me' won't get an Oscar performance

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. − Diane Warren says Kesha, who sings Warren's Oscar-nominated song "Dear Me," will not attend the Oscars because "sadly" the track will not be performed during the show.

"It would have been nice had (Kesha) been able to perform the song," the songwriter, 69, told USA TODAY at the Women in Film Oscar nominees celebration on March 13. "And that would have been an amazing moment. I'm not in control of that, but it would have been amazing."

In what USA TODAY's Melissa Ruggieri called "a controversial move," the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided that just two of the five best original song nominees will be performed live on the ABC telecast. Only "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters" and "I Lied to You" from "Sinners" get the nod. "Train Dreams" from "Train Dreams," "Sweet Dreams of Joy" from "Viva Verdi!" and "Dear Me" from Warren's documentary "Relentless" will be honored through custom-produced segments featuring behind-the-scenes footage.

While disappointed in the decision, Warren is still celebrating her 17th Oscar nomination. This one is personal, as the song was written for her documentary. Warren says she wrote the track for her younger self.

"I wanted to talk to the young girl that was bullied and made fun of and told I wasn't good enough my whole life," she said. "I wanted to tell that young girl that she's going to be OK."

Warren has yet to win a competitive Oscar, but the Academy bestowed an honorary statuette on the songwriter in 2022 at the Governors Awards.

"I've waited 43 years to say this, but I'd like to thank the Academy," Warren said as she accepted it. "I get to say a speech. I have a lot of acceptance speeches I've written that I've had to crumple up in my pocket."

Contributing: Melissa Ruggieri and Bryan Alexander