This story about Diane Warren first appeared in the Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
When she got a phone call in June from Academy president David Rubin, Diane Warren was in the studio with singer Sofia Carson, working on a song called “Applause.” The song, written for the movie “Tell It Like a Woman,” urges women to appreciate themselves: “Give yourself some applause, you deserve it.” And when Rubin greeted Warren, the song suddenly took on a whole new meaning.
“He was like, ‘I’m so happy to be able to do this. Congratulations!’” said Warren, thinking back on the moment four months later.