The music industry is full of stories about songs that were initially meant for other artists but ended up in the hands of another—only to become the greatest hits ever. These songs would have sounded so different had the original artists hadn't turned them down. In an industry where songs are often written with the hope that a major artist will record them, predicting a hit can be a real gamble. That's why some songs intended for specific artists were ed on, ultimately finding their way to someone else.

For a few superstars who ed on some of these big hits, it's sad to imagine how different their discographies would have been had they added those songs. Can you imagine Celine Dion singing Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"? Neither can we. That's an example of a song that was almost given a completely different legacy. So, without further ado, here are 10 iconic songs that almost have a totally different legacy.

10 Lean On (2015)

By Major Lazer & DJ Snake Feat MØ, Offered To Both Rihanna And Nicki Minaj

"Lean On" is a 2015 jam by Major Lazer featuring DJ Snake with vocals by MØ. Released in March 2015, the electronic collaboration peaked at #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100, spending 10 consecutive weeks on the top charts and becoming a summer anthem and an international sensation. Co-written by Diplo, he first offered Rihanna, but she declined, stating she didn't do house music.

"Lean On" went on to become one of the most streamed Spotify songs. He also tried to get Nicki Minaj on track, but she declined. Instead, he enlisted Danish singer MØ, whose heartfelt vocals propelled the song to global success. Given its simplicity, it is no surprise that MØ's voice stood out compared to Diplo's earlier choices. To this day, "Lean On" is one of the most streamed songs on YouTube and Spotify, amassing over 3.7 billion views and 2.2 billion streams, respectively.

9 Umbrella (2007)

By Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z, Rejected By Britney Spears

Rihanna's 2007 hit song "Umbrella" quickly became a global sensation, giving the star the confidence she needed to solidify her name in the music industry. Released on March 29, 2007, "Umbrella" topped the Billboard Top 100 for seven consecutive weeks, paving the way for the success of the Good Girl Gone Bad album. "Umbrella"'s production was iconic, with the drums and synthesizers echoing the 2000s hip-hop. Jay-Z's introduction was amazing, hyping Rihanna's first verse and showing her unique vocal abilities.

Interestingly, "Umbrella"'s original writers—Kuk Harrell, The Dream, and Tricky Steward—had Britney Spears in mind. Since Steward had worked with Britney before, he hoped he would help her navigate through her personal struggles and spark a musical resurgence. Sadly, the song never reached Britney, as the executive producers believed she didn't need more material. In the end, the song reached the right person and landed in the right hands, becoming one of the most acclaimed songs of all time.

8 Love Me Like You Do

By Ellie Goulding, Rejected By Tove Lo

Ellie Goulding's "Love Me Like You Do" lyrics made it the best of Fifty Shades of Grey's soundtrack. However, the track was initially meant for Tove Lo. While Tove Lo did write the song, she turned down the opportunity to sing it, since it didn't align with her artistic style. Ellie Goulding did an incredible job and used it to capture the song's emotional depth with her signature vocals. At the time, the "Habits" singer was still establishing herself as an artist.

She was interested in carving out her identity in the electro-pop scene and felt like Ellie was the best shot for the song—and she was absolutely right. Goulding's version ended up becoming one of the biggest hits ever, thanks to her ethereal vocals and the song's atmospheric production - making it a memorable synth-pop anthem. Its sultry energy paired perfectly with the film's video, further cementing its place in pop culture.

7 Whataya Want From Me (2009)

By Adam Lambert, Was Written By P!nk

Although Adam Lambert was relatively popular during his American Idol days, it was his controversial performance of "For Your Entertainment" that truly pushed him to stardom. During the 2009 American Music Awards (AMAs), Lambert debuted his single "For Your Entertainment," a performance that ended with him kissing his male band member, sparking widespread controversy. His second single, "Whataya Wants From Me," eventually peaked at #10 on the US Billboard Top 100.

Interestingly, Lambert almost never recorded this incredible masterpiece, as it was originally meant for P!nk's Funhouse album. The "Raise Your Glass" singer recorded a demo for her Funhouse album but ultimately chose not to add it. Instead, P!nk gave the song to Lambert, who turned it into his signature hit. The song's raw vulnerability resonates deeply, encouraging listeners to wear their hearts on their sleeves. With his power and dynamic vocals—effortlessly shifting from delicate falsetto lines to full-throttle emotions—Lambert took the track and made it unforgettable.

6 We Found Love (2011)

By Rihanna Featuring Calvin Harris, Was Meant For Leona Lewis

British musician and X Factor winner Leona Lewis was initially asked to record the vocals for "We Found Love" by Calvin Harris, but ed on the offer. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Leona stated that Calvin Harris went on tour with Rihanna, and the two released the single. The singer noted that she hadn't committed to the song and preferred to have "Trouble" as her first single.

Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls also said she ed on the song due to a scheduling conflict.

"We Found Love" became a #1 hit in over 35 countries, and it is still one of the best singles ever, selling over 10.5 million copies. It is still one of the greatest pop-EDM tracks of all time, with Calvin Harris elevating the song to a euphoric level. To this day, this is Rihanna's most successful song, earning a 5x Platinum certification in May 2024.

5 Telephone (2009)

By Lady Gaga, Was Rejected By Britney Spears

"Telephone" was almost a Britney Spears song. In fact, Spears turned down two songs that ended up becoming successful hits. As earlier mentioned, Rihanna's "Umbrella" became one of her biggest songs, and a year later, she rejected "Telephone." At the time, Lady Gaga was writing music for other artists and penned "Telephone" for Spears' Circus album. The song dropped on March 15, 2010, featuring Beyoncé and becoming an instant hit. The massive track was even nominated for Best Pop Collaboration at the 2011 Grammy Awards.

Even though Gaga's most iconic music video is "Bad Romance," "Telephone" is still among the top five of her best videos. This song and its video both blurred the line between an old-school pop spectacle and a digital era phenomenon. The music video itself was legendary—from the striking wardrobe and the choreography to the fictional crimes committed, the list goes on and on. While Spears is a pop powerhouse in her own right, it's hard to imagine anyone else delivering "Telephone" with the same level of artistry as Gaga did in this masterpiece.

4 Happy (2013)

By Pharrell Williams, CeeLo Green Rejected The Song

Before Pharrell's "Happy" became a global sensation, the song was originally offered to CeeLo Green. Pharrell itted that "Happy," the song that catapulted him into stardom, was intended for CeeLo Green, but his team felt that he needed to focus on his album at the time. The American rapper, singer, and record producer's team said it "wasn't a hit" - though, according to Pharrell, when Green sang it, it sounded quite amazing. Pharrell's "Happy's" cultural domination was never given on paper.

Pharrell was already doing well with "Get Lucky," a collaboration he did with Daft Punk. Since the song didn't fit with CeeLo Green's Christmas album, and that's how it ended up with Pharrell. It was his tenth attempt to get the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack after nine rejections—and even "Happy" was rejected on the first listen. 11 years later, "Happy" has over 1 billion views on YouTube and Spotify, cementing its place in pop culture.

3 Irreplaceable (2006)

By Beyoncé, Was Meant For Ne-Yo

Beyoncé's smash record "Irreplaceable" almost had a different voice behind it: Ne-Yo. The R&B artist known for his elite pen game has written for many of his peers, including Beyoncé, who secured one of the 2006 biggest songs—"Irreplaceable." Ne-Yo initially wrote the song for himself, but decided to hand it over to Beyoncé. He thought it would sound a bit corny and also draw some unwavering backlash if a man sang "Irreplaceable."

Ne-Yo made the right choice. As great of an artist as he is, and as good as it would have sounded if he sang it, it might not have been a big hit. "Irreplaceable" became one of Beyoncé's iconic tracks that resonated deeply when sung from her perspective. With over 500 million views on YouTube, the song remains one of her most powerful anthems of empowerment and self-worth, continuing to inspire fans worldwide.

2 Gold Digger (2005)

By Kanye West Featuring Jamie Foxx, Was Initially Offered To Shawnna

Perhaps the most surprising part of this list is that "Gold Digger" was initially meant for a female rapper. The lyrics were: "I'm not saying I'm a gold digger, but I ain't messing with no broke n*****." Kanye wrote the song and offered it to rapper Shawnna, who decided not to use it on her 2004 debut album, Worth tha Weight. That's when Mr. West rewrote the hook to fit a male singer's perspective. Later, he released it as a single a month before his sophomore studio, Late Registration.

Kanye West sampled Gold Digger from Ray Charles’ 1954 single “I Got a Woman,” introducing the lyric "she give me money when I’m in need."

Combining clever lyrics, infectious beats, and thought-provoking social commentary, West showcased his artistic prowess. He collaborated with Jamie Foxx, and the song became the ninth most-played song of the 2000s. At the time of its release, "Gold Digger" peaked at number one on the Billboard Top 100. Notably, Foxx's contribution to the song's hook came a year after he starred in Ray Charles's biopic, Ray, making the connection even more fitting.

1 See You Again (2015)

By Wiz Khalifa Featuring Charlie Puth, Was Offered To Eminem

"See You Again" became one of the biggest songs of the summer in 2015, but it was almost given to Eminem. 50 Cent revealed that this Paul Walker tribute was first offered to Eminem, who turned it down, since he was engaged in a competing film the same year—Southpaw. It's not surprising that Fast and Furious wanted him on the soundtrack, considering that they had considered having Eminem play Brian O'Conner, a role that was later given to Paul Walker.

Ironically, "See You Again" is tied with Eminem's "Lose Yourself" as the second longest-running rap song at the top of Billboard's Top 100 for over 10 consecutive weeks. While it was the song that put Charlie Puth on the map, "See You Again" wasn't meant to be his record, either. Speaking to Allure, Puth said Adele and Sam Smith had auditioned to be on the song. Luckily, Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth ultimately did the song, which is among the top ten most-listened-to songs on YouTube, with over 6 billion views.