How Diane Keaton achieved lifelong dream just months before her tragic death

It’s still hard to believe that Diane Keaton is no longer with us.

The pain of her loss lingers deeply — but there’s a bittersweet comfort in knowing that, just ten months before her passing, she fulfilled a lifelong dream she had carried in her heart for decades.

Diane Keaton’s passing on October 11 was such a great and unexpected loss. In the days since, one thing has stood out: no one has a bad word to say about her.

She embodied authentic brilliance — a true icon who lived with grace, charm, and completely on her own terms. And true to the remarkable person she was, Diane Keaton fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams just months before her tragic passing.

Less than a year before she died at 79, the Oscar-winning actress revealed that she had realized her dream of becoming a professional singer by releasing her debut solo holiday single, “First Christmas.”

“I CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FINALLY HERE!” Diane wrote on Instagram in November 2024, sharing the cover art that showed her in a black turtleneck and polka-dotted pants. “MY DEBUT HOLIDAY SINGLE, ‘FIRST CHRISTMAS,’ IS COMING OUT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH.”

She continued, “SO EXCITED TO SHARE THIS SONG WITH YOU ALL.”

”I had a fantasy..”

Diane — who had previously collaborated with Ashe on the 2022 track “Love Is Letting Go” — had long been open about her musical ambitions.

“I had a fantasy of being a nightclub singer that I carried through even into my early 20s,” she told Richard Crouse in a 2014 interview. “I sang a couple of gigs, as they call them, but I was not very good.”

Although she admitted to having a “very small voice” with “limitations,” her love for music made the pursuit worthwhile.

“I have this love of it,” she shared. “I love music. I love singing ballads and sad songs, it’s just so much fun.”

Beyond her foray into music, Diane was a celebrated actress, known for iconic roles in Annie Hall, The First Wives Club, Something’s Gotta Give, and The Godfather.

Following her death in California on October 11, a family spokesperson confirmed, tributes poured in from colleagues and fans honoring her unforgettable legacy.

“Diane, working with you will always be one of the highlights of my life,” Kimberly Williams-Paisley, who starred opposite Diane in 1991’s Father of the Bride, wrote on Instagram. ”You are one of a kind, and it was thrilling to be in your orbit for a time. Thank you for your kindness, your generosity, your talent, and above all, your laughter.”

The official cause of death has not yet been released. However, Diane Keaton’s longtime friend and collaborator, Carol Bayer Sager, recently reflected on her final visit with the actress, sharing how noticeably Diane had changed in the weeks leading up to her passing.

“She was very thin”

Speaking to People, Sager recalled seeing the Oscar-winning star just two or three weeks ago and being struck by her appearance.

“She was very thin,” Sager said. “She had lost so much weight.”

Another friend told People that the Annie Hall star’s health declined rapidly in recent months, leaving even her closest friends largely unaware of what was happening.

“She declined very suddenly, which was heartbreaking for everyone who loved her,” the friend said. “It was so unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit.”

The source added:

“In her final months, she was surrounded only by her closest family, who chose to keep things very private. Even longtime friends weren’t fully aware of what was happening.”

In achieving this long-held dream, Diane Keaton proved that it’s never too late to follow your passions — leaving behind a legacy that celebrates not just her legendary career, but also her unwavering spirit and love for life. RIP Diane!