20 Hit Songs You Never Knew Were Meant For Other Singers

Ever wonder what your favorite chart-topper would sound like if someone else had sung it? Many of the biggest hits in music history were actually written or recorded with completely different artists in mind.

Sometimes a song gets rejected, other times it’s simply passed along, but the final version we know and love often comes from an unexpected voice. Get ready to discover which stars almost sang the songs that made other musicians famous!

Baby One More Time By Britney Spears

TLC turned down what would become one of the most recognizable pop songs ever. Max Martin wrote this catchy track and pitched it to the R&B trio first, but they passed on the opportunity.

A teenage Britney Spears grabbed the song instead and launched her entire career with it. The rest is pop music history, complete with that unforgettable schoolgirl outfit and choreography that defined late ’90s culture.

Umbrella By Rihanna

Britney Spears was the original target for this rain-soaked anthem. Songwriters crafted “Umbrella” specifically with her voice in mind, then also offered it to Mary J. Blige before anyone said yes.

Rihanna snatched it up and turned the track into a worldwide phenomenon. That “ella, ella, eh” hook became impossible to escape, proving sometimes the third choice is the charm that makes magic happen.

We Found Love By Rihanna

Calvin Harris had Nicole Scherzinger in mind when he produced this EDM banger. She listened to the demo and decided to pass, leaving the door wide open for someone else.

Rihanna walked right through that door and dominated every radio station on the planet. The pulsing beat and emotional lyrics became a defining moment in both her career and the dance-pop era of the early 2010s.

Halo By Beyoncé

Ryan Tedder created “Halo” for Queen Bey herself, yet delays caused the song to circulate elsewhere. Leona Lewis’ team heard it and considered recording their own version during the waiting period.

Beyoncé ultimately claimed what was rightfully hers and delivered a powerhouse vocal performance. The soaring chorus and heartfelt lyrics became a wedding favorite and one of her most beloved ballads ever recorded.

Since U Been Gone By Kelly Clarkson

Pink got first dibs on this pop-rock breakup anthem from Max Martin and Dr. Luke. When she declined, the songwriters approached Hilary Duff, who also turned it down.

Kelly Clarkson became the third time’s the charm, transforming the track into her signature sound. The powerful vocals and guitar-driven chorus helped her break away from her American Idol image and establish herself as a serious rock-pop artist.

Toxic By Britney Spears

Kylie Minogue heard “Toxic” first and said no thanks. The writers probably scratched their heads wondering who else could pull off such a bold, edgy track with that distinctive string hook.

Britney Spears proved she was the perfect fit, delivering one of her most critically acclaimed singles. The song earned her a Grammy and remains a fan favorite, showing that rejection can lead to someone else’s greatest triumph.

Irreplaceable By Beyoncé

Ne-Yo originally envisioned this as a country ballad for stars like Shania Twain or Faith Hill. The lyrics about packing belongings “to the left” seemed perfect for a Nashville heartbreak tune.

Beyoncé transformed it into an R&B empowerment anthem that resonated worldwide. Her fierce delivery turned a country concept into a pop culture moment, complete with hand gestures and singalong moments at every concert venue imaginable.

Disturbia By Rihanna

Chris Brown and his collaborators wrote “Disturbia” for his own album re-release. After finishing the track, they realized the darker, more intense vibe suited Rihanna’s evolving sound better.

She recorded the final version and it became another massive hit in her collection. The haunting production and catchy chorus showed her versatility, proving she could tackle both dance-pop anthems and moodier, more atmospheric tracks with equal success.

Telephone By Lady Gaga Feat. Beyoncé

Lady Gaga penned “Telephone” with Britney Spears in mind, who even recorded a demo version. Imagine hearing Britney’s voice on that iconic “Stop callin’, stop callin'” hook instead!

Gaga decided to keep the song for herself and invited Beyoncé to join her. The result was a pop culture phenomenon with an unforgettable music video that broke the internet before breaking the internet was even a thing.

Rock Your Body By Justin Timberlake

The Neptunes crafted this funky track during Michael Jackson’s “Invincible” era. Can you imagine the King of Pop delivering those smooth verses and that infectious chorus?

The collaboration never materialized, so Justin Timberlake grabbed it for his solo debut. It became one of his signature songs, helping him transition from boy band member to legitimate solo superstar with serious R&B credibility and dance floor dominance.

I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing By Aerosmith

Diane Warren imagined a powerhouse female vocalist like Celine Dion belting out this emotional ballad. The Armageddon film team had different ideas and wanted a rock band instead.

Aerosmith recorded it and scored their biggest pop hit ever. Steven Tyler’s raspy vocals brought unexpected rawness to the love song, proving that sometimes the least obvious choice creates the most memorable result that defines an entire movie soundtrack.

Bleeding Love By Leona Lewis

Jesse McCartney co-wrote and recorded “Bleeding Love” for his own album release. His label executives listened and surprisingly passed on the track, thinking it wasn’t the right fit for him.

Leona Lewis received the song and turned it into a massive international smash. Her powerful vocals and emotional delivery made it a worldwide phenomenon, launching her career beyond her X Factor victory into global stardom and chart domination.

How Will I Know By Whitney Houston

Janet Jackson received the first offer for this upbeat pop track. She declined, and the songwriters needed to find another young star who could capture the song’s innocent, questioning energy.

Whitney Houston became that star, and the song helped cement her status as a pop and R&B icon. The infectious melody and her incredible vocal range combined to create one of the most beloved ’80s anthems that still gets radio play today.

Don’t Cha By The Pussycat Dolls

Tori Alamaze originally recorded and released “Don’t Cha” as her own single. The track didn’t gain much traction or make a significant impact on the charts despite its catchy hook.

The Pussycat Dolls re-recorded it with Busta Rhymes and it exploded globally. Their version became an inescapable club anthem and radio staple, proving that sometimes a song needs the right performers and timing to reach its full potential and worldwide success.

Love Me Like You Do by Ellie Goulding

Writer Savan Kotecha considered Demi Lovato as a potential vocalist for this track. Before any final decisions were made, the song became attached to the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack.

Ellie Goulding recorded it and created one of the biggest movie soundtrack hits in recent memory. Her breathy, ethereal vocals perfectly captured the film’s romantic intensity, and the song became a massive hit that defined the entire Fifty Shades phenomenon for millions.

Shape Of You By Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran wrote “Shape Of You” with Rihanna in mind and seriously considered giving it away. He imagined her voice on the tropical-influenced beat and catchy marimba hook.

Ultimately, he decided to keep it for himself and released it as a single. The song became one of the most-streamed tracks of all time, breaking records across multiple platforms and proving that sometimes trusting your gut about keeping a song pays off massively.

Love Yourself By Justin Bieber

Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song and initially pictured another artist singing it. He mentioned Rihanna as a possible fit for the stripped-down, acoustic revenge track before other plans developed.

Justin Bieber ended up recording it for his album Purpose, and it became a huge hit. The minimal production and brutally honest lyrics showed a more mature side of Bieber, helping him transition from teen heartthrob to respected artist with genuine songwriting credibility.

Let’s Get Loud By Jennifer Lopez

Gloria Estefan co-wrote “Let’s Get Loud” for herself to perform. After finishing it, she felt the song echoed too much of her previous work and wouldn’t add anything new to her catalog.

She suggested Jennifer Lopez record it instead, and the song helped define JLo’s early sound. The Latin-influenced party anthem became one of her signature tracks, showcasing her ability to blend pop, Latin, and dance music into an irresistible celebration.

Holiday By Madonna

Songwriters pitched “Holiday” to several artists, including Mary Wilson of The Supremes. Multiple people heard the track and passed on it before it found its way to a hungry young artist in New York.

Madonna picked it up and scored her first big American hit, launching her legendary career. The upbeat, feel-good dance track became a defining moment in ’80s pop culture and established her as a force to be reckoned with.

SOS By Rihanna

Producer J. R. Rotem shopped “SOS” around to multiple artists, including Christina Milian and various girl groups. The track samples Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love,” giving it an instantly recognizable hook that needed the right voice.

Rihanna’s team chose it for her album A Girl Like Me, and it became another smash hit. The song helped establish her as a pop powerhouse beyond her debut, proving she could deliver both Caribbean-influenced tracks and straight-up pop bangers.