Alleged ethical breach disqualifies song sung by Joni Eareckson Tada

Enthuse Entertainment’s historical drama Alone Yet Not Alone garnered a 2014 Oscar nomination for Best Original Song—but then ran into trouble. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences rescinded the song’s nomination just days after the original announcement. 

Bruce Broughton, who composed the song with Dennis Spiegel, is a member of the executive committee at the Academy and was flagged for sending Oscar voters an email bringing to their attention the underdog song sung by best-selling author and Christian recording artist Joni Eareckson Tada.

While other nominees’ representatives had engaged in similar marketing efforts to draw attention to their songs, the Academy’s Board of Governors felt Broughton’s actions were inappropriate and constituted an ethical breach due to his position on the Academy’s executive committee.

Tada—a quadriplegic who founded Joni and Friends to meet the needs of the disabled—was excited about the nomination as a chance to bring attention not only to the film, but also to people with disabilities like herself. 

“While I can only imagine the disappointment of music writer Bruce Broughton and lyricist Dennis Spiegel in the rescinding of their Oscar nomination, it in no way detracts from either the song’s beauty or its message,” Tada said. “I was humbled and honored to have been asked to sing it for the film and was as surprised as anyone when I learned of the song’s nomination.”

It’s not all grim news, though, as Movieguide announced plans to feature Tada performing “Alone Yet Not Alone” at its Feb. 7 awards gala in Los Angeles. Furthermore, despite the disappointing turn of events for the Oscar hopeful, the movie’s visibility has been greatly increased by the surprise nomination and rare disqualification.

The title-track single is available digitally through iTunes, and the full soundtrack, composed by William Ross, will be available in stores in 2014. DVD release information has not yet been announced. Zondervan released Tracy Leininger Craven’s Alone Yet Not Alone (Zonderkidz) YA book in December.

Alone Yet Not Alone tells the story of Barbara and Regina Leininger and their journey of faith and survival during the French & Indian Wars in 1755. Captured by the Delaware Indians in a raid and transported 300 miles to Ohio, the sisters are sustained by their trust in God and their hope of escape. 

In its limited theatrical release last September, Alone Yet Not Alone became the highest-grossing film on its opening weekend in terms of per-screen average (combining theater and Seatzy ticket sales), reaching $13,396 per screen.