Ed Sheeran recently opened up about the powerful influence Rihanna has had on his songwriting process, admitting that many of his biggest hits were written with her in mind. The 34-year-old singer shared this insight during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on March 26th, revealing that Rihanna’s taste has been a driving force behind his creative journey.
“She has the best taste out of anyone,” Sheeran said of the Grammy-winning superstar. “She always picks really great songs. So as songwriters, we’re always writing songs with the hope of pitching them to Rihanna.”
Sheeran went on to explain that every album he’s ever worked on has included tracks written specifically with the intention of being pitched to Rihanna. He mentioned that even the megahit “Shape of You” was originally crafted with someone else in mind. “I very much wrote it with someone else in mind,” he admitted, reflecting on how the song didn’t initially feel like it suited his own style.
When Fallon pointed out that Rihanna might be considered a “muse” for Sheeran, the singer agreed, adding, “I promise you, there are so many songwriters out there whose best song came from trying to write a Rihanna song.”
In addition to “Shape of You,” Sheeran also revealed that the song “Love Yourself,” which he co-wrote with Benny Blanco and performed by Justin Bieber, was originally penned with Rihanna in mind.
Rihanna, who has been on a break from releasing music for several years, teased her fans with news that her long-awaited ninth album is currently in the works and is expected to drop this year.
Sheeran’s candid remarks about his creative process highlight the deep respect he has for Rihanna’s musical vision and her impact on his own career.
