15 Chart-Topping Hits You Didn’t Know Were Written by Other Artists

15 Chart-Topping Hits You Didn’t Know Were Written by Other Artists

Some of the biggest songs you’ve ever sung along to weren’t actually written by the artists who made them famous.

Behind every chart-topper, there’s often a talented songwriter working quietly behind the scenes, crafting the words and melodies that millions fall in love with.

It’s a surprising side of the music industry that most fans never think about.

Get ready to hear some stories that will completely change the way you listen to your favorite hits.

1. “Irreplaceable” by Beyonce (2006) – Written by Ne-Yo

You probably know every word to “Irreplaceable,” but did you know Beyonce didn’t write a single line?

Ne-Yo, the smooth R&B singer-songwriter, crafted this breakup anthem with sharp confidence and cool minimalism.

He reportedly wrote it imagining how a strong woman would speak to someone who took her for granted.

The iconic “to the left” refrain was his idea, and it turned into a global empowerment mantra almost overnight.

Ne-Yo has said he actually considered recording it himself before handing it over.

Sometimes the best gift a songwriter gives is letting someone else bring their words to life.

2. “…Baby One More Time” by Britney Spears (1998) – Written by Max Martin

Before Britney Spears became a pop icon, a Swedish hitmaker named Max Martin handed her a song that would change everything.

Max Martin wrote “…Baby One More Time” with a haunting piano riff and punchy teen-pop energy that felt completely fresh in 1998.

He had already worked with the Backstreet Boys, but this track launched a whole new era.

Interestingly, Britney almost didn’t record it – the song was originally offered to TLC, who turned it down.

That one rejection gave the world one of the best-selling singles in history.

Max Martin’s instincts, as always, proved to be absolutely spot-on.

3. “Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor (1990) – Written by Prince

Prince wrote “Nothing Compares 2 U” back in 1985 for his side project, The Family, but it barely made a ripple.

Then Sinead O’Connor recorded it five years later, and the world stopped in its tracks.

Her stripped-down, emotionally raw delivery turned a quietly written song into one of the most powerful ballads ever recorded.

The music video, featuring a close-up of O’Connor’s tearful face, became one of the most iconic images of the entire decade.

Prince himself was reportedly not thrilled with her version at first.

Yet history remembers it as one of his greatest songwriting achievements, even if he didn’t sing it.

4. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston (1992) – Written by Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” in 1973 as a heartfelt goodbye to her business partner, not as a romantic love song.

She recorded it as a gentle country farewell, and it became a hit twice for her.

Then Whitney Houston got hold of it for “The Bodyguard” soundtrack and turned it into something almost impossible to describe.

Whitney’s gospel-influenced, powerhouse rendition became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Dolly Parton has joked that Whitney’s version earned her enough royalties to buy a few theme parks.

When someone covers your song that well, the only right response is gratitude.

5. “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus (2009) – Written by Jessie J

Jessie J was still a relatively unknown songwriter when she penned “Party in the U.S.A.,” a song that would make someone else a household name.

She wrote it about her own feelings of culture shock when she first moved to America, feeling out of place and overwhelmed by the big city energy.

Miley Cyrus recorded it, added her own personality, and the song became an unstoppable late-2000s anthem.

The chorus is so singalong-ready that it almost feels like it was always meant to be played at every summer event ever.

Jessie J eventually became a huge star herself, but this song was her calling card long before anyone knew her face.

6. “Manic Monday” by The Bangles (1986) – Written by Prince

Prince had a habit of writing hits for other people under fake names, and “Manic Monday” is one of his most beloved secret gifts.

He wrote it under the pseudonym “Christopher” and handed it to The Bangles, an all-female pop-rock group he was a fan of at the time.

The song perfectly captures that universal Monday morning dread everyone feels when the alarm goes off too early.

It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986, kept from the top spot by none other than another Prince song – “Kiss.” That means Prince was basically competing with himself at the top of the charts.

Few songwriters have ever pulled off something that effortlessly cool.

7. “We Found Love” by Rihanna (2011) – Written and Produced by Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris didn’t just write “We Found Love” – he built the entire sonic world around it, producing a track that felt like pure euphoria bottled into four minutes.

He brought Rihanna in for the vocals, and what resulted was one of the defining club anthems of the early 2010s.

The song topped charts in over fifteen countries and stayed at number one in the U.S. for ten consecutive weeks.

Harris has said the song captures the feeling of finding joy in unexpected places, even chaotic ones.

Rihanna’s breezy, effortless delivery made it feel personal without trying too hard.

Sometimes the best collaborations happen when two creative forces just trust each other completely.

8. “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber (2015) – Written by Ed Sheeran

Ed Sheeran has written hits for a long list of artists, but “Love Yourself” might be his sneakiest gem.

He originally wrote the track for himself but felt it suited Justin Bieber’s situation better, and the result was one of the most refreshingly understated pop songs of the decade.

No big production, no flashy drop – just a clean acoustic groove and lyrics with a sharp, quiet bite.

Sheeran’s writing style shines through in every line, especially the biting chorus that sounds polite but really isn’t.

Bieber’s smooth delivery made it feel authentic and personal.

Fans who know both artists often say it sounds exactly like an Ed Sheeran song – because, well, it is.

9. “The Monster” by Eminem ft. Rihanna (2013) – Co-written by Bebe Rexha

Before Bebe Rexha became a chart-topping artist in her own right, she was quietly writing some of the biggest songs around.

“The Monster” was one of them – a haunting, introspective track that blended Eminem’s rapid-fire verses with a chorus that hit like a gut punch.

Rexha co-wrote the song and originally recorded a demo of the hook herself.

The track explores the tension between fame, inner demons, and public perception in a way that felt genuinely raw.

It reached number one in multiple countries and won a Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

Rexha’s songwriting fingerprints are all over that unforgettable hook, even if her name wasn’t on the album cover.

10. “Hot in Herre” by Nelly (2002) – Written by Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, known as The Neptunes, had a production sound so distinctive in the early 2000s that you could recognize their beats in about three seconds flat.

“Hot in Herre” was their playground – a funky, groove-heavy track built around a sample from Chuck Brown that Pharrell twisted into something completely irresistible.

Nelly’s laid-back delivery matched the beat perfectly, turning it into one of the most-played party songs of the decade.

Pharrell wrote the lyrics with Nelly in mind, giving the song a playful edge that never felt forced.

The track won a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance and remains a time capsule of early 2000s cool.

11. “Till the World Ends” by Britney Spears (2011) – Written by Kesha

Kesha has a reputation for wild, high-energy anthems, and “Till the World Ends” is exactly that spirit bottled up for someone else.

She wrote this club-ready banger for Britney Spears during a period when Britney was making a serious comeback, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

The pulsing synths and relentless beat made it feel like the kind of song you’d want playing at the end of everything.

Kesha’s signature carefree chaos is baked right into the DNA of the lyrics.

Britney delivered it with a fierce confidence that matched the energy completely.

The song debuted in the top five and reminded everyone that Britney’s comeback era was very much real.

12. “This Is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris and Rihanna (2016) – Secretly Written by Taylor Swift

Few music industry secrets caused as much buzz as the revelation that Taylor Swift co-wrote “This Is What You Came For” under the pseudonym Nils Sjoberg.

She and Calvin Harris, who were dating at the time, worked on it together, but when their relationship ended, the credit situation became public in the most dramatic way possible.

The song itself is a shimmering, hypnotic EDM track built around Rihanna’s airy, repetitive vocal hook – simple on the surface but completely addictive.

It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the summer’s defining tracks.

Taylor’s songwriting fingerprints, once you know they’re there, are surprisingly easy to spot.

13. “Diamonds” by Rihanna (2012) – Written by Sia

Sia wrote “Diamonds” in just fourteen minutes, which is almost unfair when you consider how timeless the song feels.

She has described the writing process as one of those rare moments when a song seems to arrive fully formed, almost writing itself.

The imagery of shining bright like a diamond struck a universal chord that crossed every genre boundary imaginable.

Rihanna’s vocal performance gave the song a warmth and emotional weight that turned it into one of her signature tracks.

It became her longest-running number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, spending eleven weeks at the top.

Sia’s gift for crafting anthems that feel both grand and intimate is on full display in every single line.

14. “Forget You” by CeeLo Green (2010) – Co-written by Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars was still an up-and-coming songwriter when he helped craft “Forget You,” a track so cheerfully catchy that it made heartbreak sound like a good time.

He co-wrote it with CeeLo Green and producer Philip Lawrence, drawing inspiration from classic Motown soul to create something that felt both nostalgic and completely of its moment.

The song’s cheeky, good-natured attitude toward a bad ex made it impossible not to smile while listening.

It became a crossover smash, landing on pop, R&B, and adult contemporary charts simultaneously.

Mars went on to become one of the biggest stars in music, but this early co-write showed his songwriting instincts were already exceptional.

15. “Just a Little Bit of Your Heart” by Ariana Grande (2014) – Written by Harry Styles

Harry Styles was still a member of One Direction when he quietly wrote “Just a Little Bit of Your Heart” and handed it to Ariana Grande.

The song is a soft, aching ballad about loving someone who can only give you a fraction of themselves in return – emotionally mature subject matter that surprised a lot of listeners coming from a pop heartthrob.

Grande’s delicate, restrained vocal performance matched the song’s vulnerability perfectly, showcasing a softer side of her voice that fans don’t always get to hear.

Styles has always had a thoughtful approach to songwriting, and this early example proves that his solo career ambitions were there long before he went solo.