Photo credit: www.goldderby.com
Elton John’s Potential Oscar Triumph in 2025
Elton John, renowned for his contributions to music and a two-time Oscar winner, is once again in the spotlight with a shortlist placement for the Best Song category. His latest entry, “Never Too Late,” is derived from the Disney+ documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late. Co-written alongside Brandi Carlile, long-time lyricist Bernie Taupin, and notable producer Andrew Watt, this song could see John inch closer to making Oscar history.
Should he receive a nomination, it would represent John’s fifth nomination in the Best Song category. While not the overall record—which belongs to Sammy Cahn at 26 nominations—scoring a fifth nomination would place John in the esteemed company of other prestigious songwriters. These include his collaborative partner Tim Rice, whose work on The Lion King alongside John remains celebrated. Other legends in this five-time club include Burt Bacharach, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Stephen Schwartz, who is also vying for an Oscar nomination in the Best Score category for Wicked.
SEE Oscar shortlists in 10 categories announced
As it stands, “Never Too Late” finds itself just outside the top ten in Gold Derby’s rankings for Best Song, with 20% of editors anticipating John’s nomination. However, only a mere 4.8% of experts believe it will secure a spot. Leading the category is “Kiss the Sky” from The Wild Robot, followed by other notable entries from Emilia Pérez, including “El Mal” and “Mi Camino.” Despite missing nominations at the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, “Never Too Late” did receive a Satellite Award nomination.
The song itself is uplifting, featuring a strong piano presence, and engages listeners with themes of resilience and transformation. The lyrics reflect a journey through adversity, highlighted by the mantra, “To hell with Heaven’s gate.” Both John and Carlile share vocal duties, presenting their own verses but primarily harmonizing throughout, encapsulating a message of hope and determination that resonates deeply with John’s 60-plus years in the music industry.
SEE Elton John’s ‘Tammy Faye’ closed early on Broadway: Does religious musical have a prayer at the Tonys?
While the odds for a nomination seem uncertain, a third Oscar win would place John in a rarefied group of only ten individuals in Oscar history to achieve three or more wins in the Best Song category. Presently, five writers, including Rice, Jay Livingston, and others, boast three Oscars, while artists like Jimmy Van Heusen and Alan Menken hold the record with four wins. Notably, Menken was absent from this year’s shortlist for his work on the animated feature “Spellbound.” The list of winners includes not just composers but also lyricists and those who craft both music and lyrics.
John’s illustrious history at the Oscars includes three nominations in 1994 for The Lion King: “Circle of Life,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” with the latter winning. He also secured another win for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman, co-written with Taupin. Notably, “Never Too Late” would mark the inaugural nomination for Brandi Carlile, a talented artist with nine Grammy Awards to her name.
The 2025 Oscar nominations are set to be announced on January 17, with the ceremony scheduled for March 2, 2025.
Source
www.goldderby.com