How Diane Keaton’s closest friend helped her to achieve her ‘lifelong ambition’ just months before she died – and the poignant legacy it leaves

Just months before her sad death, Diane Keaton recorded a soulful Christmas song she described as her ‘lifelong dream’.

The Oscar-winning actor, who died on October 11 at the age of 79, sang the song “First Christmas” with lyrics describing the pain of a loved one and the pain of celebrating New Year’s Eve without them for the first time.

The stunning black and white footage from the recording studio showed the Hollywood star sitting next to the piano as he recorded his debut solo single, which has now become his final song.

“Now I wish I could let go, it’s a quiet night, another year, the first Christmas without you, I miss you so much,” says Diane, who collaborated with close friend and songwriter Carole Bayer Sager on the song.

Admitting she was ‘stunned’ by Diane’s ‘very thin’ appearance in her final weeks, Carole said she never imagined the lyrics would take on such a heartbreaking meaning just 10 months after the ballad’s release.

Paying tribute to Diane, Carole said she was a ‘magic light for everyone’ as she shared video footage of the couple embracing during the recording session; This clip will now serve as a lasting memory of their friendship.

The actress, who died on October 11 at the age of 79, sang the song First Christmas, written by Carole Bayer Sager (pictured), whose lyrics reflected the painful loss of a loved one.

Dramatic black and white footage from the recording studio showed the Hollywood star standing next to the piano as he recorded his first solo single.

When she released the track last November, Diane wrote on Instagram that the song was ‘very close’ to her heart, telling her followers: ‘I hope it brings you some peace and comfort this holiday season, as it has for me.’

She has previously spoken about her long-held dream of becoming a singer, saying: ‘I had a dream of being a nightclub singer and pursued this until my early twenties. I played a few gigs, as they say, but I wasn’t very good.’

Of her passion for singing, Diane added: ‘I love it. I love music. ‘I love singing ballads and sad songs, it’s so much fun.’

Songwriter Carole, 81, who was previously married to Burt Bacharach, shared footage of Diane recording The First Christmas on Instagram, captioning the post: “Rest in peace Diane, you made this world a better place.”

In the second post, the friends are seen holding hands and embracing, with Carole adding plaintively: ‘Whoever dreamed up the lyrics can apply to you.’

Lyrics to First Christmas, co-written by singer-songwriter Jonas Myrin, 42, include: ‘When you love someone for this long but they don’t come home… I never thought I’d do this on my own…

‘Snow is falling on my window, I wish I could let it go, a quiet night, another year… The first Christmas I spent without you.’

Jonas, who played the piano for Diane while recording the festive ballad, paid a heartfelt tribute to the actress, saying he was ‘heartbroken’ by her passing.

Songwriter Carole previously shared Instagram photos celebrating her close friendship with Diane.

Diane released a Christmas song last year and told her followers she hoped the song would bring ‘peace and comfort’ to them as it had to her.

The star has previously spoken about her long-held dream of becoming a singer, saying: ‘I had a dream of being a nightclub singer and I pursued that until my early twenties.’

Songwriter Jonas recalled how Diane called him in tears after helping realize her dream of releasing an original track

Diane’s close friend, songwriter Carole, revealed she was ‘stunned’ by the actress’ sudden weight loss before her sad death (pictured October 2025)

He wrote: ‘Being trusted to help bring to life a lifelong dream of recording an original song is something I will carry with me forever.

First Christmas, which I wrote with Carole and produced for Diane last year, became her first and last song, and now those words carry a meaning I never could have imagined.

‘Beyond the song, the memories I hold closest to the times we spent together. ‘Diane would always fill the room with such laughter and little jokes that made us smile and she would always arrive so stylish, like she was ready for a Vogue shoot at any moment.’

Jonas also talked about how much the song meant to Diane, saying that when she called Diane in tears, she realized how important a turning point this was for her.

He added: ‘I’ll never forget when he called me and told me that singing this song was one of the greatest gifts of his career.

‘Singing and recording an original song has been a dream he’s had his whole life, and being able to help him bring that dream to life with Carole was incredibly special.’

Finishing the post, Jonas said: ‘Diane was fearless, curious, generous and loving in everything she did. His voice, his heart and his art will live on in these notes and the legacy he left behind.’

Unlike her stellar career, which included starring roles in Annie Hall, Reds and Something’s Gotta Give, Diane’s final weeks were spent in solitude.

Carole said Diane spent her final months away from home, which needed repairs after damage from the Los Angeles wildfires.

As well as her award-winning career and A-list properties, Diane leaves behind her beloved children, daughter Dexter and son Duke, whom she adopted in her 50s (pictured 2018)

Diane is famous for films such as Annie Hall, Reds and Something’s Gotta Give, opposite Jack Nicholson (pictured in 2003)

A source told People magazine that Diane had become “reclusive” due to the “rapid decline” in her health.

“This was unexpected, especially for someone with such strength and spirit,” a friend told the US publication.

Carole described how Diane’s life was affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles in January, which led her to move to Palm Springs.

It had been some time before the friends could meet and Carole said she was stunned by Diane’s dramatic weight loss.

He said: ‘I saw him two or three weeks ago and he was very weak. He had lost so much weight. He had to go to Palm Springs because the inside of his house was damaged and they had to clean everything up.

‘He was there for a while and when he came back I was amazed to see how much weight he had lost.’

The sudden deterioration in Diane’s health led her to the heartbreaking decision to sell her ‘dream home’ in Los Angeles’ Sullivan Canyon, which she had spent years renovating.

Diane listed the property at £21 million earlier this year, after writing her book The House That Pinterest Built, which details renovations to her home.

Along with her award-winning career and world-class properties, Diane leaves behind her beloved children.

Famous for Al Pacino, Woody Allen and Warren Beatty, Diane became a single mother for the first time in her 50s after adopting two children.

She raised her daughter Dexter and son Duke, who were adopted in 1996 and 2001, on her own and said ‘motherhood was not an urge I could resist’.