The Academy Awards take place on March 12, 2023. Unfortunately, country music does not have a presence in this year’s nominees. However, in years past, a number of country music classics have been nominated in the Best Original Song category.
While a country song has never won an Oscar for Best Original Song, our genre did have some nominees through the years, and one country icon has been nominated for Best Original Song twice in her storied career. Let’s take a look at the Top five country songs nominated for an Academy Award.
5 - 2022 – "Somehow You Do" from the movie "Four Good days" - Reba McEntire (written by Diane Warren)
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Reba’s performance of this song at the 2022 Academy Awards was a highlight of the show. However, “No Time to Die” from the James Bond movie of the same name won, and the award went to Billie Eilish & Finneas O’Connell.
4 - 2006 – "Travelin' Thru" from the movie "Transamerica" - Dolly Parton (written by Dolly Parton)
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This was Dolly’s second Oscar nomination in the Best Original Song category. The 2006 Oscar went to the movie Hustle & Flow‘s song “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp” by Three 6 Mafia.
@minisuma Dolly Parton performing her song “Travlin’ Thru” at the 2005 Oscars. The song is from a Indie Film about a Trans Woman. The is called TRANSAMERA. And this song is beautiful! #dollyparton #oscars #transgender #jacknicholson #lgbtq #love
♬ original sound - Maggie Suma3 - 1998 – "How Do I Live" from the movie "Con Air" - Trisha Yearwood (written by Diane Warren)
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Trisha performed at the Oscars and was introduced by Madonna. The Oscar for Best Original Song that year went to the movie Titanic’s “My Heart Will Go On,” sung by Celine Dion.
2 - 1981 – "On The Road Again" from the movie "Honeysuckle Rose" - Willie Nelson (written by Willie Nelson)
Photo by Diane Freed
Willie’s first Oscar nomination, the Oscar for Best Original Song, went to “Fame” from the movie of the same name won. Irene Cara sang it.
1 - 1981 – "9 to 5" from the movie "9 to 5" - Dolly Parton (written by Dolly Parton)
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Dolly’s first performance at the Academy Awards and even though it was one of the most popular songs of all-time. Perhaps Willie and Dolly split the vote from the country music fans in the Academy.