Vanessa Williams reveals she was third choice for ‘Save the Best for Last’

Singer and actress Vanessa Williams revealed on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s ‘Dinner’s on Me’ podcast that she was the third choice to record her signature hit, ‘Save the Best for Last’. The song was initially offered to Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand, both of whom declined before it was presented to Williams.

Released as part of her 1991 album ‘The Comfort Zone’, the ballad became Williams’ only number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, spending five weeks at the top spot. The track earned two Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year, and was one of the most successful songs of 1992.

Williams also mentioned that she missed the opportunity to record Amy Grant’s ‘Baby Baby’ due to an apparent oversight, expressing that she would have loved to have performed the track.