Music legend Dionne Warwick says she is preparing to close a historic chapter of her career. The singer has announced plans for what she calls her final studio album, titled “Dwuet,” after more than six decades in the music industry.
Warwick, known for timeless hits including “Walk on By,” “Alfie,” and “I Say a Little Prayer,” has built a career spanning generations of listeners. The upcoming project will focus entirely on collaborations, pairing the iconic vocalist with a range of contemporary artists.
The album’s title references Warwick’s partnership with celebrated songwriter Diane Warren. According to reports, Warren wrote every song on the record, marking the pair’s first full collaboration together.
Warwick’s son and longtime collaborator Damon Elliott is producing the album. Elliott said watching younger performers record with his mother has been a powerful experience in the studio.
“The experience of watching all of these young legends working with a real living legend was a thrill to watch,” Elliott said. “Mom picked the lock for them, and they paid respect to one of the greatest artists ever.”
Dionne Warwick’s Final Chapter
Each track on “Dwuet” will feature Warwick performing alongside another artist. Among the first confirmed collaborators are singer and actress Cynthia Erivo and Grammy-nominated R&B artist Kehlani.
Erivo appears on the album’s lead single, “Ocean in the Desert,” which is expected to debut later this month.
Warwick said recording the song with Erivo created an immediate connection between the two singers.
“It was such a joy to be in the studio harmonizing with such a talented entertainer as Cynthia,” Warwick said in a statement announcing the project. “We immediately bonded and had so much fun recording this beautiful song.”
Erivo also spoke warmly about working with the veteran performer, describing the recording process as deeply meaningful.
“It was so warm being in the studio with Dionne; it was like a mother-daughter relationship,” Erivo said. “This experience was like the godmother of music coming in and saying to me ‘I knight you.’”
Warwick’s announcement comes after a remarkable career that began in the early 1960s. She went on to sell millions of records and score dozens of charting singles, becoming one of pop and soul music’s defining voices.
Her catalog includes enduring classics and collaborations with some of music’s most influential songwriters and performers. Over the decades, Warwick has worked with artists ranging from Burt Bacharach to Luther Vandross and Elton John.
Now 85, the singer says “Dwuet” will serve as both a celebration and a farewell to recording new albums. Additional duet partners and the album’s official release date are expected to be announced later.