Songwriter Ilya Reveals 'God is a Woman' Was Considered for Beyoncé and JAY-Z

In the music industry, hit records frequently navigate a complex and unpredictable path between major artists before making their official public debut. Songwriter and producer Ilya Salmanzadeh, known mononymously as Ilya, recently revealed that Ariana Grande’s 2018 smash hit "God is a Woman" was originally considered for music superstars Beyoncé and JAY-Z, according to reporting by Complex.

Speaking on Ross Golan's "And the Writer Is…" podcast, Salmanzadeh shared the behind-the-scenes evolution of the popular track from Grande’s album "Sweetener." According to Salmanzadeh, the production team initially contemplated the song for the married couple, who were performing jointly as The Carters and released their collaborative studio album "Everything Is Love" in 2018. However, the potential pairing did not move forward, with Salmanzadeh succinctly noting, "It didn't happen."

Before Grande made the song her own, the record was shopped to multiple mainstream pop vocalists. Over the past several years, early demo versions featuring vocals by Camila Cabello and Rita Ora have leaked across the internet. Despite those exploratory recordings, Salmanzadeh explained that Grande remained at the forefront of his mind throughout the development process.

When Salmanzadeh brought the song back to Grande, the initial concept was to feature her vocals on the chorus alongside an established rap artist. Grande rejected the proposal for a guest verse immediately after listening to the material, opting instead to build out the entire record herself. Salmanzadeh recounted that Grande told him, "No, we're writing this for me," before writing all of the song's verses, crafting the pre-chorus, and arranging its intricate vocal harmonies in a single studio session that day.

The resulting single proved to be one of the most successful releases of Grande's career. Following its release on "Sweetener," "God is a Woman" reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and went on to earn a quadruple-platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.

According to Complex, "God is a Woman" was not the sole track on "Sweetener" with roots linked to Beyoncé. The album's track "R.E.M." originated from a Pharrell Williams-crafted demo that had been submitted to Beyoncé for her 2013 self-titled album. Prior to that submission, Williams had shopped an earlier iteration of the record, titled "Dream," to T-Pain in 2011.

Salmanzadeh's extensive catalog includes songwriting and production work for prominent acts such as Normani, Khalid, Ellie Goulding, and Ed Sheeran. His candid reflections highlight how fluid the modern songwriting pipeline remains, with major records shifting between multiple industry leaders before finding their ultimate cultural home.