Some of the most iconic songs of all time weren’t written by the artists who made them famous. Behind the scenes, a select group of musicians used their songwriting talent to craft hits for others, often crossing genres and generations in the process. From pop chart-toppers to rock anthems and soul classics, these artists proved that great songwriting transcends the spotlight. Here are 20 artists who wrote songs that became career-defining moments for someone else.
Prince
Known for meticulously guarding his music, Prince still passed on a handful of spectacular tunes. The most famous example is “Manic Monday,” a perfect piece of ’80s pop that he offered to the girl group The Bangles.
Carole King
Before her seminal 1971 album Tapestry made her a star in her own right, King was a powerhouse in the Brill Building’s songwriting factory, crafting hits for dozens of artists. Among her most famous contributions are The Shirelles’ “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1960), Aretha Franklin’s “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” (1967), and The Monkees’ “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (1967).
Paul McCartney
Even outside his work with the Beatles, McCartney was a prolific writer. He famously wrote the power-pop classic “Come and Get It” specifically for the group Badfinger in 1969, even producing their recording of the track.
Neil Diamond
The man who brought us “Sweet Caroline” was also a key figure in the 1960s pop scene. He wrote numerous hits for The Monkees, including their first No. 1 single “I’m a Believer” (1966) and the equally catchy “A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You.”
Ryan Tedder
As the frontman for OneRepublic, Tedder is a highly recognizable artist, but his massive success comes from writing for others. His biggest gift to a fellow superstar is Beyoncé’s “Halo” (2009), a towering ballad that solidified her post-Destiny’s Child career.
Sia
Known for her massive solo hits, Sia is an in-demand songwriter for pop artists. She famously co-wrote Rihanna’s powerful 2012 hit “Diamonds,” an emotional track she originally penned in just 14 minutes.
David Bowie
Bowie had a knack for giving away incredible songs that became signature hits for others. He offered the iconic glam rock anthem “All the Young Dudes” to Mott the Hoople in 1972 after the band was on the verge of splitting up—it instantly saved their career and became their most famous song.
Missy Elliott
A true innovator of hip-hop and R&B, Missy Elliott’s pen is responsible for many of the biggest late ’90s/early 2000s R&B hits. She wrote and produced 702’s 1999 track “Where My Girls At,” a song originally written for TLC. She also wrote much of Aaliyah’s sophomore album, One in a Million.
Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers
As the core songwriting duo of Chic, Edwards and Rodgers’s genius extended far beyond their own band. They wrote and produced some of the biggest disco and dance anthems of all time, including Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” (1979) and Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” (1980), crafting a legacy that would later inspire many artists, including Daft Punk.
The Bee Gees
The Brothers Gibb were an unparalleled songwriting machine in the disco era and beyond. They penned some of the most enduring hits of the 70s and 80s for other artists, including Barbra Streisand’s “Woman in Love” (1980) and the classic country crossover duet “Islands in the Stream” (1983) for Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
John Lennon
Though most of his work was for The Beatles or his solo career, Lennon did give away a few songs. He wrote the 1974 track “Fame” with David Bowie and guitarist Carlos Alomar, contributing the iconic riff.
Bryan Adams
The Canadian rocker who defined the soundtrack of the ’90s with his power ballads was also a stealth-weapon songwriter for other artists. Adams co-wrote the 1997 hit “Let’s Talk About Love” for Celine Dion and co-wrote “When the Night Comes” for Joe Cocker in 1989.
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell is one half of the iconic production duo The Neptunes and the frontman for N.E.R.D., but his fingerprints are all over the early 2000s R&B/Pop landscape. He co-wrote and produced global anthems that helped shape the careers of his peers. Most notably, he provided the slinky, boundary-pushing sound for Britney Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U” (2001) and was a major force behind Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl” (2005), proving his beat-making ability transcended his own artistic identity.
Taylor Swift
While her self-penned autobiographical hits are her trademark, Taylor Swift has discreetly handed over or co-written several major songs. Her biggest reveal came when she was credited under the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg for co-writing the Calvin Harris/Rihanna dance-pop collaboration, “This Is What You Came For” (2016).
Ed Sheeran
The British singer-songwriter with the acoustic guitar is known for his stadium-filling hits, but he’s also a prolific factory for pop anthems. His work on Justin Bieber’s 2015 album yielded the colossal hit “Love Yourself,” a track he co-wrote and originally intended to keep for himself. He also penned the nostalgic boyband ballad “Little Things” (2012) for One Direction, demonstrating his versatility across personal and mainstream pop styles.
Jackson Browne
A foundational figure in the Southern California folk-rock scene, some of Jackson Browne’s songs were hits for his contemporaries. He famously co-wrote The Eagles’ breakout 1972 single “Take It Easy,” a song that defined the band’s laid-back, sun-drenched sound.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie sure crafted smooth, sophisticated tunes for others. Beyond his work with Michael Jackson on “We Are the World,” he wrote and produced the chart-topping 1980 ballad “Lady” for country superstar Kenny Rogers. This song marked a critical crossover moment for both artists and highlighted Richie’s ability to craft timeless, romantic compositions.
Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson was one of the most respected songwriters of his generation, known for crafting deeply personal, literate songs that other artists turned into enduring classics. He wrote “Me and Bobby McGee,” which became a massive hit for Janis Joplin, as well as songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Ray Price, and Waylon Jennings. Kristofferson’s writing blended country, folk, and poetic introspection in a way that reshaped Nashville songwriting. Even when others made his songs famous, his voice and perspective remained unmistakable.
Willie Nelson
The legendary Outlaw Country artist had a long and storied career as a songwriter. His most famous contribution to another artist’s catalog is the immortal country standard “Crazy,” which was transformed into the signature song for the incomparable Patsy Cline in 1961.
Bruno Mars
Long before Bruno Mars was dominating the Grammys with 24K Magic and his retro-soul flair, he was an in-demand professional songwriter and producer as part of The Smeezingtons team (with Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine). His biggest hidden gem is the massive 2010 retro-soul track “Forget You” (often titled “F**k You”), which became a global smash for CeeLo Green. Mars also co-wrote the soaring ballad “All I Ask” (2015) for Adele and contributed to early hits like Flo Rida’s “Right Round” (2009)