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Most People Forget Wynonna Judd Was the First To Sing This Eric Clapton Hit
Eric Clapton's 1996 chart-topper "Change the World" is widely credited as one of his signature songs, but the track was actually first recorded by country star Wynonna Judd before Clapton ever touched it. Judd cut the song for her third studio album, Revelations, though it was never released as a single and passed largely unnoticed. The song's true origins highlight how a piece of music can languish for years before finding the artist and moment that turns it into a hit.
Written by Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims and Wayne Kirkpatrick, the song was penned five years before either Judd or Clapton recorded it, and the writers had originally hoped it would land them a record deal, which never materialised. After Judd's version failed to become a single despite years of expectation, Clapton recorded it for the 1996 film Phenomenon's soundtrack, and it became a chart phenomenon in its own right: 13 weeks at No. 1, a record 81 consecutive weeks in Billboard's Top 20 Adult Contemporary chart, and the Grammy for Song of the Year. Kennedy credits co-writer Kirkpatrick with reshaping the song from a more socially conscious idea into the love song that became so widely loved.
In short
- Wynonna Judd recorded "Change the World" before Eric Clapton did.
- Her version, on album Revelations, was never a single.
- Clapton's 1996 version hit No. 1 and won Song of the Year.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Wynonna Judd was the original artist who first recorded this song, taking creative risk and bringing it to her album before anyone else. Yet her pioneering contribution has been almost entirely erased from history, with Clapton receiving sole recognition for what was ultimately a later interpretation. This represents a genuine injustice, particularly as women artists regularly have their foundational work overshadowed by more commercially successful male artists, and proper attribution to original artists matters for fairness and accurate history.
The case against
What ultimately matters in music is which version connects most powerfully with audiences, and Clapton's recording unquestionably did that—becoming a Grammy-winning phenomenon that touched millions. There is nothing unfair about a later artist's superior execution and interpretation becoming the culturally remembered version; this is how art naturally progresses. The measure of a song's value is the impact and resonance it achieves, not chronological priority, and Clapton's version earned its place through genuine artistic success.
Explained simply
“Change the World” was written by Gordon Kennedy, Tommy Sims and Wayne Kirkpatrick, who hoped the song might help them secure a record deal. Kirkpatrick later reshaped its original, more socially focused idea into a love song.
Wynonna Judd recorded it for her album “Revelations”, but her version was not released as a single and drew little attention. Eric Clapton later recorded the song for the soundtrack to the film “Phenomenon”, helping make it one of his best-known tracks. Its path shows how a song can take years to find a wide audience.