Tyler Perry’s film The Six Triple Eight packs a real emotional punch. And it has a marquee track to match. “The Journey” — written for the World War II drama, with music and lyrics by Diane Warren — has been nominated for the Academy Awards in the Best Original Song category. “I'm so proud and honored to be nominated for my song ‘The Journey’ from Tyler Perry’s film The Six Triple Eight,” says Warren. “Inspired by the powerful, true story of these incredible women and brought to life with perfection by the amazing artist H.E.R., this song about resilience resonates within the movie and in life. We are all on our own journey.”
With soaring, unmistakable vocals by Academy and Grammy Award–winning artist H.E.R., the song is featured in the film at a pivotal moment in the heroic tale. Warren is known for heart-wrenching ballads, and has crafted some of her biggest hits (with collaborators including Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and Aerosmith) thanks to cinematic inspiration: She is a 16-time Academy Award nominee, recognized for her work in films including Pearl Harbor, Beyond the Lights, RBG, and now The Six Triple Eight. Warren found herself immediately inspired to write the song that would become “The Journey” even before Perry had a finished version of the film for her to watch. Explained Warren: “That’s the first time that that’s ever happened. I literally knew. In my mind, I saw the movie.”
The film, which stars Kerry Washington, tells the true story of The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. As the only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve in Europe during World War II, the Six Triple Eight helped solve a monumental mail crisis that was making it impossible for soldiers and their families back home to communicate with one another. And, just like the song at the center of the film recounts — “Times you didn’t know if you were strong enough / Still you got through” — the 668th completed their assignment against all odds, under arduous conditions, within a system of segregation and sexism. “I had never heard this story about these incredible women and what they have done, what they have endured. We’ve been charged with carrying their story to the world. We are representing real people who went to war, came back, and were dismissed,” Perry said. “Whenever I write a song for a movie, I write the song that I want to hear in the movie,” said Warren. “Their story was so powerful that I knew I had to write a great song.”
Watch H.E.R. perform “The Journey” below.
