Cher is not known for mincing words. And to hear her frequent musical collaborator songwriter Diane Warren tell it, the legendary singer doesn’t hold back at all, even when it comes to her most trusted chart consigliere.
“‘You’re annoying but U write great songs,’” Warren wrote in an Instagram post early Friday morning (May 8) about what sounds like a sweet/spicy compliment Cher paid to her. The post included a seemingly recent smiling pic of the dynamic duo hanging out, along with Warren’s reaction to the star’s backhanded praise: “haha thnx Cher😛🎶🎵✍️♥️.”
At press time it was unknown if, as fans speculated in the comments, the chummy pic was a hint of yet another team-up to come and a spokesperson for Cher had not returned Billboard‘s request for comment on the post and whether it’s a tease of a potential future project.
Despite her reported irritating qualities, Warren, who earlier this year fully embraced being the “biggest loser” in Oscar history after her 17th nomination for best original song at the Academy Awards resulted in a 17th loss, has been a bit of a lucky charm for Cher over the years.
The singer’s Warren-penned and produced massive 1989 hit “If I Could Turn Back Time” ran up to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and they’ve teamed up for more than a dozen other classics, including the Golden Globe-winning Burlesque soundtrack hit “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” the country-leaning 1989 song “Just Like Jesse James,” as well as 1991’s “Save Up All Your Tears,” 1987’s “Perfection,” “Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore?,” “Love and Understanding” and several others.
Cher has not released an album of original material since 2013’s dance-heavy Closer to the Truth, which featured production from Paul Oakenfold, Timbaland and Billy Mann, among others. Her most recent project was her 2023 Christmas album, which debuted the Top Holiday Albums chart in 2023.
Warren was recently included in The New York Times‘ list of the 30 greatest living American songwriters, earning praise for the song she’s written (or co-written) for everyone from Taylor Swift to Chicago, Patti LaBelle, Aerosmith, Toni Braxton, and, of course, Cher. “I’m usually not into these lists, but this one is a pretty f–king cool one to be on! Thank U @nytimes! 🙌🎶✍️🎼🎵,” Warren wrote on Instagram.
