Every Best Original Song Oscar Winner Since 2000

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The 2026 Oscars are right around the corner. For movie fans and music zealots alike, Sunday night is the ultimate high-stakes stage. While the acting categories grab the headlines, the real soul of the ceremony often lies in the live musical performances. The Academy Awards' Best Original Song category is one of the rare places where a gritty rap anthem can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a sweeping Disney power ballad or even a K-pop viral sensation. We tracked the last quarter-century of Oscar history and every song that took home the gold.

Why it matters

The Best Original Song winners chart how movie music has evolved from safe end-credit filler into a real storytelling tool. From "Shallow" - Lady Gaga's arena-level belt in A Star is Born - to the existential soul-searching of Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?", these are the tracks that actually won and defined the musical identity of their films.

The details

The article provides a comprehensive list of every Best Original Song Oscar winner from 2000 to 2025, including the song title, the movie it was featured in, the artist/songwriter, and a brief explanation of why the song won. The list showcases the diversity of winners, ranging from genre-bending rap anthems to emotional ballads, viral sensations, and classic Disney power ballads.

• The 2026 Oscars are right around the corner.
• Sunday night is the ultimate high-stakes stage for the Best Original Song category.

What’s next

While we have our own predictions for 98th Academy Awards, the race is still wide open. Will the Academy favor a quiet indie ballad or a high-energy blockbuster anthem? This year's nominees are all fighting for a spot on this historic list, and we'll be updating all the winners live the moment each envelope is opened.