Ed Sheeran may be one of the biggest artists in the world, but even he admits that Rihanna is in a league of her own. The British singer-songwriter recently confessed that two of his most successful songs, Shape of You and Justin Bieber’s Love Yourself, were originally written with the Barbadian superstar in mind. “Rihanna has the best taste out of anyone,” Sheeran gushed during a March 26 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “She just knows what makes a song great. As songwriters, we’re all constantly trying to create something that might be worthy of her.” While Shape of You ultimately became one of Sheeran’s biggest hits—amassing over 4.2 billion Spotify streams—he admitted that it “didn’t really feel like it suited” him at first. Even after tweaking the song, he had to “get [his] head around it” since he had so strongly envisioned Rihanna bringing it to life.
Rihanna, who has an impressive 14 No. 1 hits and 63 entries on the Billboard Hot 100, remains one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. Yet, despite her undeniable dominance, she hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti. Fans eager for new music may have to wait a little longer, as she recently told Harper’s Bazaar, “I cannot put up anything mediocre… After waiting eight years, you might as well just wait some more.” However, Sheeran’s words serve as a reminder that Rihanna’s artistry continues to shape the industry—even when she isn’t actively releasing music. “I promise you, there’ll be so many songwriters out there whose best song came from trying to write a Rihanna song,” he said.
Beyond music, Rihanna is also making waves in the beauty industry, with her Fenty Beauty brand set to launch in Jamaica this April. The highly anticipated expansion will be marked by exclusive events at Fontana Waterloo in Kingston on April 10 and Fontana Fairview in Montego Bay on April 12. With previous launches in nine Caribbean territories, including Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago, this move reinforces her commitment to diversity and her regional roots. Her impact isn’t just about selling products—it’s about representation, accessibility, and redefining global beauty standards.
