Ariana Grande's hit song God Is a Woman could have had a completely different sound if songwriter and producer Ilya Salmanzadeh had explored an early idea in another direction. The song, which became one of the outstanding hits from Grande's 2018 album Sweetener, was previously considered for Beyoncé and Jay-Z's joint project. A user commented after the news went viral:“It would have been a disaster.”During an interview with Ross Golan on the And the Writer Is… podcast, Salmanzadeh said that the song was originally intended for the couple, but Grande eventually made it her own."It didn't happen," Ilya stated, recalling the potential of the song going to Beyoncé and Jay-Z.Everything Is Love, the Carters' joint album, was released in 2018, the same year Grande released Sweetener. However, the song changed direction after Grande heard it and chose to record it herself.How did Ariana Grande make God Is a Woman her own?According to Salmanzadeh, the first concept featured Ariana Grande singing the chorus and a rapper contributing a feature. That idea evolved when Grande heard the song and decided she wanted it for herself.He recalled:“When we started again with Ari, we were thinking maybe it could be her singing the chorus, and we’d get a rap feature, but then when she heard the song, she was like, ‘No, we're writing this for me.’ I was like, ‘Okay, fine.’ She just wrote all the verses and the pre-chorus and all those crazy harmonies that are in there. She did it all that day.”The songwriter also discussed how swiftly Grande shaped the final version. During the session, she wrote the lyrics, pre-chorus, and harmonies, helping shape the track into the final version people hear.“She just wrote all the verses and the pre-chorus and all those crazy harmonies that are in there. She did it all that day.”God Is a Woman was released as part of Sweetener and became one of Grande's defining songs. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received four-times platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.The song's lyrics and accompanying visual presentation also explored themes of female empowerment and spirituality, cementing its status as an important release in Grande's career.God Is a Woman was not the only Sweetener song with a connection to Beyoncé; Grande's song R.E.M. began as a demo intended for the superstar before making it onto Grande's album.Fans react as songwriter reveals Beyoncé and Jay-Z were the first pick for Ariana Grande’s ‘God Is A Woman’The news caused a controversy among fans, with some claiming that God Is a Woman was a natural fit for Ariana Grande, while others praised Beyoncé's ability to make the song her own. Some speculated that the track could have sounded completely different with another artist. One fan questioned whether Beyoncé would have been the right fit for the song:"No shade but it would’ve been a disaster giving ts to Bey."Another pushed back against the criticism, commenting:"Girl please. Beyoncé and Musical disaster can’t be used in the same sentence think you’re confusing her with the other popstar."A third fan suggested the song would simply have taken a different direction:"I think it would have just been a completely different song. Ari and Bey get considered for a lot of the same songs but they both contribute heavily. It’s like their different versions of REM."Others agreed that Ariana Grande was the right artist for the track. One user wrote:"Agreed. This is so Ariana."Another criticized the negative reaction, writing:"There’s no basis for even saying that. Y'all always say nonsensical stuff for no reason."Meanwhile, one fan argued that Beyoncé and Jay-Z could have delivered an even stronger version, writing:"No, it would be amazing..."One commenter dismissed the debate with a blunt response:"Girl, shut up full shade."God Is a Woman eventually became one of Ariana Grande's biggest successes after she opted to take the song in her own direction. While the potential of Beyoncé and Jay-Z recording has caused fan debate, the track's popularity demonstrates how the proper artist can convert a song into something truly their own.Whether fans believe the Carters could have delivered a better version or agree that the song was written for Ariana Grande, the revelation has left many wondering what may have been.Stay tuned to Soap Central for more information.