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\n\tDiane Warren<\/a>, one of modern music\u2019s most celebrated songwriters, was honored Monday (April 28) night at the New York Pops Gala at Manhattan\u2019s Carnegie Hall for her extraordinary achievements in the music industry. The event brought together Warren, conductor Steven Reineke and a host of award-winning artists to pay tribute to her impact on decades of pop music.<\/p>\n \n\tWarren\u2019s songwriting journey spans what feels like a lifetime of accomplishments with her first Billboard Hot 100 hit dating back to 1983 with \u201cSolitaire,\u201d performed by Laura Branigan<\/a>.\u00a0She has earned nine No. 1 hits among 33 top 10s<\/a> on the Billboard Hot 100, and shares the record for the most No. 1s written by one writer \u2013 eight<\/a> \u2013 in the chart\u2019s history. Her vast catalog includes beloved classics such as \u201cOnly Love Can Hurt Like This\u201d (Paloma Faith), \u201cUn-Break My Heart\u201d (Toni Braxton), \u201cIf I Could Turn Back Time\u201d (Cher) and \u201cRhythm of the Night\u201d (DeBarge).<\/p>\n \n\tThe New York Pops recognized the Grammy winner with a series of moving performances by guest artists including Shoshana Bean, Sofia Carson, Taylor Dayne, Ariana DeBose, Micaela Diamond, Brandon Victor Dixon, Ang\u00e9lique Kidjo, Hailey Kilgore, Mykal Kilgore, Storm Large and LeAnn Rimes. Backed by the full orchestra, each artist performed a specially arranged version of one of Warren\u2019s songs. Among the evening\u2019s standout moments was Storm Large\u2019<\/a>s powerful rendition of \u201cHow Can We Be Lovers,\u201d arranged and orchestrated by Dylan Condor. Sofia Carson<\/a>\u2014best known for her song in the Academy Award-nominated 2023 film Tell It Like A Woman<\/em>\u2014delivered a stirring performance of \u201cApplause,\u201d penned by Warren for the film. Carson expressed heartfelt gratitude to Warren, praising her dedication and her gift for channeling raw emotion through music.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tAlongside Diane, Reineke and the New York Pops, the PopsEd Program welcomed students from 15 states to the stage, including those in mentorship programs made possible by annual donors and the New York Pops Gala. PopsEd engages students of all ages and backgrounds, through mentorship, to spark creativity, build essential life skills, and make music accessible and fun. The PopsEd Program students sang alongside Mykal Kilgore, singing \u201cRhythm of the Night,\u201d which DeBarge took to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 hit<\/a> in 1985.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tWith performances spanning hits from the 1980s to the 2000s, the night was a powerful tribute to Diane Warren\u2019s enduring influence and her gift for crafting songs that transcend genres and connect with audiences across generations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n