After more than six decades in music, legendary American singer Dionne Warwick is preparing to close a remarkable chapter in her career with the release of what is expected to be her final studio album.
The six-time Grammy Award winner is currently recording a new project titled DWuets, a collaborative album that will feature a series of high-profile musical partnerships. According to details obtained by Billboard, the project will serve as the concluding album in Warwick’s 65-year recording career.
The first single from the album, “Ocean in the Desert,” is scheduled for release on March 20. The track marks Warwick’s first collaboration with award-winning performer Cynthia Erivo, who has earned Emmy, Tony and Grammy honors throughout her career. The album’s second single is also expected to feature newly crowned Grammy winner Kehlani, adding another contemporary voice to the veteran singer’s farewell project.
A Collaboration-Driven Farewell Album
DWuets also introduces another significant creative partnership. For the first time, Warwick is teaming up with acclaimed songwriter Diane Warren, a Grammy winner and 14-time Academy Award nominee. Warren penned all of the songs on the album, while Warwick’s son and longtime manager Damon Elliott produced the project’s duets.
The album’s title is partly derived from the initials of Warwick and Warren, highlighting the collaboration at the heart of the project. Additional guest artists expected to appear on the album have not yet been revealed, and the official release date for the full LP is still to be announced.
A Meeting Sparked by a Tribute Performance
Warwick and Erivo’s musical partnership traces back to the Kennedy Center Honors in 2023, where Erivo performed Warwick’s classic hit “Alfie” in tribute to the singer. Originally released in 1967, the song became a major pop and R&B success and remains one of Warwick’s signature recordings.
“Alfie,” along with “Walk on By” and “Don’t Make Me Over,” has since been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, underscoring Warwick’s lasting influence on popular music.
Reflecting on their studio collaboration, Warwick described recording with Erivo as an uplifting experience, saying she enjoyed harmonizing with “such a talented entertainer.” Erivo, in turn, compared working alongside Warwick to sharing the studio with a musical mentor, describing the atmosphere as warm and almost like a mother-daughter relationship.
Production and Artistic Vision
The single “Ocean in the Desert” will be released through Elliott Entertainment in partnership with Vydia, a subsidiary of gamma.. Producer Damon Elliott said watching emerging stars collaborate with his mother on the project was inspiring, calling Warwick “a real living legend.”
Visual artwork for the album has been created by painter Marcus Glenn, who previously served as the official artist for the 56th Grammy Awards. The artwork includes the album cover and individual single covers, which will later be turned into physical art pieces and auctioned.
A Career Spanning Generations
Warwick’s career spans multiple generations of music, earning her numerous accolades including a Grammy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
With DWuets, the iconic vocalist appears set to bring her recording journey to a celebratory close—bridging her legacy with a new generation of artists in one final collaborative statement.