Diane Warren announces reggae compilation with Common Kings, Fiji, Gramps Morgan

Diane Warren, one of pop’s most familiar hitmakers, is taking an unexpected turn into reggae with a project that could either read as a novelty crossover or a serious cross-regional collaboration. Songs in the Key of Diane: A Reggae Compilation of Diane Warren Songs is set for July 31, 2026, and brings together Pacific Island and Caribbean voices on a 13-track set built around Warren’s catalog.

The compilation is led by Common Kings, Fiji, Pia Mia, Lea Love and Gramps Morgan, with Warren saying her songs have “always had that rhythmic Caribbean feel,” starting with “Rhythm of the Night.” She said the goal was not to simply recycle familiar material, but to give the songs “a fresh set of clothes.” Warren also said great songs can travel across genres when the melody, lyrics and rhythm are strong enough, a claim this release is designed to test in public.

The project carries more weight than a one-off celebrity detour. It grew out of a more than three-decade relationship between Warren and Steven Rosen, president of Regime Music Group, who curated the compilation and co-produced it with Warren, Ivory Daniel and Kevin Zinger of Regime/Island Empire. That kind of backstory matters in reggae, where credibility often comes from who is behind the board as much as who is in front of the mic.

The first preview arrived on April 17, when Common Kings released a reggae version of DeBarge’s 1985 hit “Rhythm of the Night.” Billboard reported that the album includes classic songs, deep cuts and unreleased Warren material, including six tracks that had previously been unreleased or lesser-known in her catalog. That mix gives the July release calendar real stakes: this is not just a covers record, but a vault-opening project with familiar hooks and unfamiliar turns.

One of the most poignant inclusions is Fiji, identified as George Brooks Veikoso, whose version of “You Kind of Beautiful” was the final recording he made before his death at 55 in July 2025. That detail alone gives the compilation a deeper emotional pull, especially for listeners who followed his blend of island music, reggae, hip-hop, R&B and jazz.

Gramps Morgan’s reaction points to the project’s collaborative intent. He said working with Warren and her team was “exceptional” and called the opportunity a “blessing.” With additional contributors including Eli Mac, Analea Brown and Sammy Johnson, the album looks less like a novelty and more like a carefully assembled Pacific and Caribbean showcase built around songs strong enough to travel.