[1] Previously, Newman had been nominated fifteen times in the Best Score and Best Song categories, but had never won.
Allmusic said, "For all its charm, it can't help but sound a bit like a second-rate version of Toy Story's "You've Got a Friend in Me," but it's still a winning song.
He said: "I want to thank, first of all, the music branch [of the Motion Picture Academy] for giving me so many chances to be humiliated over the years...I am absolutely astounded that I won for this."
"[9] Two versions of "If I Didn't Have You" appear on the film's soundtrack: one sung by Billy Crystal and John Goodman, who voice the film's main characters, Mike and Sulley and one sung by Newman.
Hannah Montana co-stars Mitchel Musso and Emily Osment recorded a cover version of the song for the Disneymania 6 album.