Ahead of Taylor Swift’s Likely Oscar Debut, Here’s How Other 21st Century Pop Stars Fared at Their First Academy Awards

First Best Song Nod: “Lose Yourself” from 8 Mile (2003), which he co-wrote with Jeff Bass and Luis Resto.

Outcome: It won, becoming the first hip-hop song to win an Oscar.

First Best Song Nod: “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp” from Hustle & Flow (2006), which group members Juicy J and DJ Paul co-wrote with Frayser Boy.

Outcome: It won, becoming the second hip-hop song to win an Oscar; the first that was written and recorded by Black musicians. It was also the first best original song winner (from any genre) on which two or more Black songwriters collaborated.

First Best Song Nod: “Skyfall” from Skyfall (2013), which she co-wrote with Paul Epworth.

Outcome: It won, becoming the first song written for a James Bond film to win an Oscar.

First Best Song Nod: “Happy” from Despicable Me 2 (2014)

Outcome: It lost to “Let It Go” from Frozen.

First Best Song Nod: “Glory” from Selma (2015)

Outcome: It won. Common was nominated again three years later for co-writing “Stand Up for Something” from Marshall.

First Best Song Nod: “Writing’s on the Wall” from Spectre (2016), which he co-wrote with Jimmy Napes.

Outcome: It won, becoming the second song written for a James Bond film to win an Oscar.

First Best Song Nod: “Earned It” from Fifty Shades of Grey (2016), which he co-wrote with Ahmad Baslhe, Jason Quenneville and Stephan Moccio.

Outcome: It lost to “Writing’s on the Wall” from Spectre.

First Best Song Nod: “Til It Happens to You” from The Hunting Ground (2016), which she co-wrote with Diane Warren.

Outcome: It lost to “Writing’s on the Wall” from Spectre. But Gaga won three years later with “Shallow” from A Star Is Born. She was nominated in the category for a third time in 2023 for co-writing “Hold My Hand” from Top Gun: Maverick.

First Best Song Nod: “Can’t Stop the Feeling” from Trolls (2017), which he co-wrote with Max Martin and Shellback.

Outcome: It lost to “City of Stars” from La La Land.

First Best Song Nod: “All the Stars” from Black Panther (2019), which they co-wrote with Mark “Sounwave” Spears and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith.

Outcome: It lost to “Shallow” from A Star Is Born. In 2026, Lamar and SZA won two Grammys for “Luther” – record of the year and best melodic rap performance.

First Best Song Nod: “Stand Up” from Harriet (2020), which she co-wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell.

Outcome: It lost to “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rocketman. Erivo was also nominated for best actress for her performance as Harriet Tubman in the film.

First Best Song Nod: “Fight for You” from Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), which she co-wrote with Dernst Emile II and Tiara Thomas.

Outcome: It won, marking the second time that three Black songwriters collaborated on an Oscar-winning song. (The first, as noted above, was “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp.”)

First Best Song Nod: “Speak Now” from One Night in Miami… (2021), which he co-wrote with Sam Ashworth.

Outcome: It lost to “Fight For You” from Judas and the Black Messiah. Odom was also nominated for best supporting actor for his portrayal of Sam Cooke in the film.

First Best Song Nod: “No Time To Die” from the film of the same name (2022), which she co-wrote with her brother and collaborator, Finneas.

Outcome: It won, becoming the third song written for a James Bond film to win an Oscar. Eilish and Finneas won again two years later for co-writing “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie.

First Best Song Nod: “Be Alive” From King Richard (2022), which she cowrote with DIXSON.

Outcome: It lost to “No Time to Die” from No Time to Die.

First Best Song Nod: “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2023), which she cowrote with Tems, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson.

Outcome: It lost to “Naatu Naatu” from RRR.

First Best Song Nod: “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late (2025), which she cowrote with Elton John, Andrew Watt and Bernie Taupin

Outcome: It lost to “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez.

First Best Song Nod: “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters (2026), which she cowrote with Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo and Teddy Park.

Outcome: It won, becoming the first K-pop song to win an Oscar. It also became the first best song winner in Oscar history that was written by more than four songwriters – seven, in this case. EJAE also popularized the song as one of the members of HUNTR/X.