Top 10 Songs We Wish Glee Could Have Covered

“Dear Evan Hansen”
“Dear Evan Hansen” was an instant smash hit and a favorite of audiences after it opened on Broadway in 2016, just one year after “Glee” went off the air. Similar to “Glee,” “Dear Evan Hansen” deals with a range of issues like mental health, social anxiety, and the difficulty of finding one’s place in the world. Perhaps the most well known song from the musical is “Waving Through a Window,” a powerful ballad sung by the titular character that absolutely would have been featured in “Glee” if it had only been released a little earlier. We know Blaine would have crushed this emotional song, and Darren Criss’ cover of the song at Elsie Fest in 2019 gives us just a glimpse of what could have been.

“Ariana Grande”
Less of a break up song and more of a moving on song, Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” inspires us all to put the past behind us and look toward the future, which is a message the ladies of “Glee” could have easily gotten behind. During the show’s run, “Glee” featured two covers of Ariana Grande songs: “Problem” and “Break Free”, so we already know they were partial to the artist. With the show’s constant stream of romantic entanglements, “Thank U, Next” is an empowering, positive song that could have easily been worked into any one of “Glee’s” seasons. It’s hard to choose just one character to cover this song, so we’ll just imagine it as one big group number featuring all the talented women in the cast.

“Noah Kahan”
Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan’s hit single “Stick Season” blew up on TikTok before it was even released, and for good reason. The song is folksy and catchy with a slight melancholic energy, and there’s no way “Glee” would have been able to resist giving this song to its resident acoustic guitar king: Sam Evans. Sam was frequently given lighthearted, even silly songs to cover like “Red Solo Cup” and “Baby”, but we would have loved to see him tackle a more serious number like “Stick Season” to add some more depth to his character’s repertoire. It would have been a moving performance no doubt, and one we’re sad we never got to see.

“Hamilton”
Hamilton opened off-Broadway in February of 2015, just one month before Glee aired its final episode. With such little overlap it was unfortunately impossible for any Hamilton songs to make it onto the show. Given Mr. Schuester’s penchant for covering rap songs, though, that’s a fact some Glee fans are grateful for. One number we do wish we could have seen on “Glee” is “Burn”, the emotional ballad sung by Alexander Hamilton’s wife Eliza after she discovers his infidelity. Like “Don’t Rain on My Parade” and “On My Own”, it’s a classic Broadway showstopper that could have only been given to Rachel Berry, and we know we would have cried watching it.

“Sabrina Carpenter”
Former Disney Channel star Sabrina Carpenter has been taking the music world by storm since her song “Feather” hit number one on the US pop charts. It was her 2024 hit “Espresso”, however, that took her career to new heights. This artist’s soprano vocals and flirty style remind us of a certain other blonde: Quinn Fabray. Imagine Quinn taking the lead on a cover of “Espresso”, supported by Santana and Brittany with all the fun choreography and costuming of a big “Glee” group number. The song would be a perfect fit for the self-confident, poised cheerleading trio known to fans as the Unholy Trinity.

“Chappell Roan”
During the series’ run, there was a distinct lack of openly lesbian pop artists, but that’s changed since Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise to fame over the past year. “Red Wine Supernova” is a fun, energetic song that proudly expresses the artist’s sexuality, and it’s a shame we never had the opportunity to see Santana and Brittany take on this song. Their relationship was one of the most beloved of the entire series, and was one of very few lesbian relationships portrayed in popular media at the time. Though it’s difficult to choose just one Chappell Roan song that could have been on “Glee,” “Red Wine Supernova’s” fun, flirty lyrics would have made for the perfect Brittana duet.

“P!nk”
The “Glee” cast covered six P!nk songs during the show’s run, but they never had the chance to take on her 2017 hit, “What About Us.” The song’s lyrics discuss standing up for the underrepresented and staying strong in the face of adversity, which aligns closely with major overarching themes of “Glee”. With its show-stopping vocals and massive popularity, this song would have more than likely become a beloved cover from the show. Perhaps it could have been part of a set list for a big competition like regionals or nationals, featured prominently at a big emotional and climactic moment in the series.

“Olivia Rodrigo”
Former Disney star Olivia Rodrigo became a pop sensation overnight with the release of her 2021 single “Driver’s License,” an emotional ballad that mourns the end of a relationship. Who better from the “Glee” cast to cover this immensely popular, beautifully vocalized song than the undisputed queen of ballads: Rachel Berry. In early seasons, Rachel often dealt with feelings of inadequacy, especially around Quinn, regarding her relationship with Finn. This directly mirrors the lyrics of “Driver’s License,” and if the song had been released a decade earlier we would undoubtedly have seen Rachel singing it, probably with a single tear rolling down her cheek.

“Miley Cyrus”
The path since leaving Disney stardom hasn’t always been an easy one for Miley Cyrus, but music has seemed to remain an outlet for the singer. This was made particularly clear with the release of her empowering 2023 single “Flowers.” The quality of her voice and pop-rock inspired stylings remind us of none other than Santana, who would have crushed a cover of this song if she’d had the chance. The character’s guarded, prickly exterior allowed for some incredibly moving moments when presented with the opportunity to show more emotion, which this song definitely would have allowed for.

“Taylor Swift”
Only two Taylor Swift songs were ever covered on “Glee”, “Mine” and “Mean,” which we consider to be a huge missed opportunity. Since the show has gone off the air, Taylor Swift has only grown exponentially in popularity, especially after rereleasing her albums. “All Too Well” had a massive resurgence following her album “Red (Taylor’s Version)”, and it’s considered one of Swift’s most powerful songs. The fact it was released before “Glee” ended makes it all the more painful that we never got a Glee Cast Version of this iconic song, which we know would have absolutely slayed.




Let us know in the comments what songs you wish “Glee” could have covered, or which ones you’re grateful they couldn’t!