"Alone Yet Not Alone" is sung by Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic with 50 percent lung capacity.
It's from a movie that made just $134,000 at the box office, which is what made its recent Oscar nomination for best song so unexpected.
On Tuesday night, the Academy's Board of Governors voted to rescind the nomination. Veteran composer Bruce Broughton wrote the song.
"Right now, I'm frustrated. I'm a little confused. Initially, I was devastated," said Broughton.
Broughton served as an academy governor for 18 years and sent an email asking former colleagues to consider voting for his song.
"I didn't ask anybody to vote for it. I didn't do any campaigning for the film. I didn't do anything that I didn't read in the rules, frankly," said Broughton.
Broughton saw competing songs, like "Happy" from "Despicable Me 2," and others promoted in big money "for your consideration" ad campaigns.
"It's more likely that people would overlook my song since it had no promotion, no marketing, it had no word of mouth," said Broughton.
In a statement, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said, "No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one's position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one's own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage."
Broughton sent an email to the Academy's president saying "he doesn't think he's done anything wrong."
"Well, if I learned how to game the system, I probably would have had a nomination before this. The last nomination I had was 30 years ago," said Broughton.
He is getting support on Facebook from other academy members, including Hans Zimmer, who calls the ruling "unfair."
Broughton isn't sure of his next step, but he is considering legal action.
"I feel sullied, literally, and dirtied. I feel defamed," said Broughton.
