'It’ll be Dionne': Legendary singer Warwick brings decades of music and her final album to Atlanta

Caption

Dionne Warwick during her "One Last Time" tour in Perth, Australia in January 2025.

Credit: Sheldon Ang

Ask Dionne Warwick if she has any regrets about a career that spans more than six decades, and the answer comes without hesitation.

"None whatsoever."

The six-time Grammy winner returns to Atlanta on March 20 for a performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, bringing with her a catalog of songs most people know by heart. 

For Warwick, performing with a full orchestra isn't a special occasion. It's simply the way her music was always meant to sound.

"It's the way I record, actually," she told GPB's Pamela Kirkland. "So audiences just get the full version of what they hear on the recordings."

The Atlanta concert, which had been postponed from last year, falls on the same day she's debuting a new single called "Ocean in the Desert," featuring Tony, Emmy, and Grammy-award winner Cynthia Erivo. 

The song is part of an upcoming album called DWuets, written entirely by Diane Warren — a songwriter Warwick speaks about the way she once spoke about Hal David, the lyricist behind so many of her most beloved recordings.

The album borrows part of its title from the duo’s initials.

"She writes from her heart, not her head," Warwick said of Warren. "And has a way with words that no one else seems to have. I felt that same way about Hal David. I never called him a lyricist. I always called him a poet."

DWuets, she says, will be her final album, mark at the end of a recording career that has stretched across more than six decades and some of the most recognizable songs in American popular music.

"I'm feeling like it's now about time to slow down," she said, "and pay a little bit of attention to Dionne for a minute."

She spoke with GPB ahead of her Atlanta performance.

Transcript:

Pamela Kirkland: This is GPB, I'm Pamela Kirkland. For more than six decades, Dionne Warwick's voice has helped shape the soundtrack of American music, with classics like "I Say a Little Prayer," "That's What Friends Are For," and "Walk On By." This week, the six-time Grammy winner is in Atlanta for a special concert with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra tonight. I spoke with her about the performance, and a new release she says will be her last. 

MUSIC

Pamela Kirkland: You've performed in Atlanta many times over the years, what do you think about this city and the audiences here? What comes to mind for you? 

Dionne Warwick: Well, like, everybody says, "Hot-lanta." Atlanta's always been wonderful to me. People have always shown up. They seem to have enjoyed every performance I've done there thus far. And hopefully it'll be the same with this particular performance. 

Pamela Kirkland: She's performed with orchestras for years and says that fuller sound is nothing new. 

Dionne Warwick: This is what I record, actually, with a full orchestra. I have performed with many symphony orchestras over the years, so you'll just get the full version of what the songs that they listen to on the recording. 

Pamela Kirkland: Friday's performance also lines up with something new, a single called "Ocean in the Desert" featuring Cynthia Erivo. 

Dionne Warwick: I met Cynthia, actually when she was doing [The] Color Purple in New York, for the first time. And then I've seen her on different occasions. And of course, when she slayed me with "Alfie" at the Kennedy Honors. 

MUSIC

Pamela Kirkland: That admiration turned into collaboration. 

Dionne Warwick: I requested her to be a part of my project, and she absolutely, "Yes," immediately, with no question as to what I was gonna sing, what she was gonna say, et cetera. I was an absolute joy to be able to sing with her. 

MUSIC

Pamela Kirkland: The song is part of her upcoming album, DWuets — that's D-W duets — a project she built entirely with songwriter Diane Warren. 

Dionne Warwick: She writes, I believe, from her heart, not her head, and has a way with words that no one else seems to have. I felt that same way about Hal David. Hal David, I never refer to him as a lyricist. I always refer to him as a poet. And with Diane, it feels almost very much the same. 

Pamela Kirkland: You've said that this is gonna be your final album. So after 65 years of making music, what made this feel like the right moment to close that chapter? 

Dionne Warwick: I'm feeling like it's now about time to slow down and kind of pay a little bit of attention to Dionne for a minute. 

Pamela Kirkland: A legendary career that spans 65 years and some of the most recognizable songs in American pop music. 

Dionne Warwick: It's been a long one, for one thing. It's been an enjoyable one. One that I've had the pleasure of singing some of the greatest songs I feel that were ever written by two composers, [Burt] Bacharach and David. And then to be able to work with other composer producers, the Bee Gees, Luther Vandross. The list goes on and on. It's just been an absolute joy. 

Pamela Kirkland: No regrets?

Dionne Warwick: None whatsoever.  

MUSIC

Pamela Kirkland: Even now, she says what keeps her going is simple: the audience. 

Dionne Warwick: The joy comes from seeing the smiles on people's faces, or an arm go around a shoulder, or a hand reach for another hand in the audience to hold. And then, of course, the participation. They don't mind opening up their mouths and singing those songs with me, which is a joy as well. 

Pamela Kirkland: And in Atlanta, she says audiences can expect a performance only she can deliver. 

Dionne Warwick: Oh, it's not a sneak peak. It's Dionne. That's what we're going to get. It's that simple.  

MUSIC

Pamela Kirkland: Dionne Warwick, thank you so much for speaking with me. 

Dionne Warwick: My pleasure, darling. You take good care. 

Pamela Kirkland: Dionne Warwick performs with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra tonight at Atlanta Symphony Hall. This is GPB.