Pop sensation Lady Gaga was secretly pleased when Britney Spears rejected one of her songs - because she was allowed to keep the tune for herself.

The Poker Face hitmaker carved out a career as a songwriter, penning tracks for artists including the Pussycat Dolls, before she shot into the limelight with her 2008 debut The Fame.

Lady Gaga admits one of her tracks, Telephone, was originally written for Spears, but when the Toxic hitmaker rejected the song, she recorded it herself - and brought new pal Beyonce on board to give it a superstar makeover.

She tells E! Online, "I wrote it for her a long time ago and she just didn't use it for her album - it's fine because I love the song and I get to perform it now."