The song was co-written by Stephen Schwartz and Kenneth Edmonds, who also produced the song. Edmonds expressed how he went through more than one version of the song and described its production as a beautiful movie ballad that was something different from anything he, Carey, or Houston had ever previously recorded. In an interview with "Vibe", Carey said that she "liked song the way it was". She had characterised it as "a very big ballad but in an inspirational way" and denied speculation that there had been past rivalry or animosity between her and Houston prior to its recording: "I never even really talked to her until this. We never had any issues between us. The media and everybody made it an issue." In an interview with "Ebony", Houston spoke about her relationship with Carey: