Current:Home > MarketsLily Allen says Beyoncé covering Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' is 'very weird': 'You do you' -MarketStream
Lily Allen says Beyoncé covering Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' is 'very weird': 'You do you'
View
Date:2025-04-15 12:47:04
Beyoncé's newest album, the genre-spanning, country-inspired "Cowboy Carter," has many famous fans – but Lily Allen isn't one of them.
The British Grammy-nominated singer shared her hot take on Thursday's episode of her new podcast, "Miss Me?" which she hosts with British TV and radio personality Miquita Oliver.
Allen, who acknowledged she's only listened to "some of" the album, disagreed with how Beyoncé dipped her toe into the country music genre, which involved taking on Dolly Parton's 1973 classic, "Jolene."
"It's very weird that you'd cover the most successful songs in that genre," Allen said.
Co-host Oliver concurred: "I don't think the 'Jolene' one is good. ... I feel like Beyoncé could've done a bit more with it or maybe picked something that was a little less big to cover."
"I just feel like it's quite an interesting thing to do when you're trying to tackle a new genre and you just choose the biggest song in that genre to cover," Allen replied. "I mean, you do you, Beyoncé, and she literally is doing her. Or is she doing Dolly?"
Lily Allen believes Beyoncé's country venture is 'calculated'
Allen and Oliver moved on from "Jolene" to discuss the rest of the album.
Oliver posited, "My friend Seb was here last night and he was like, 'Do you think (Beyoncé is) trying to take over Taylor Swift's market and be the most powerful record-selling artist in the world?'"
"To be honest, that hadn't crossed my mind, and I love me a conspiracy but I think it's been quite calculated," Allen said.
Our review:Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' is a little bit country and a whole lot more
She believes Jay-Z's Grammys speech in February, in which he called out the Recording Academy for not honoring his wife with an album of the year trophy, "was part of this campaign."
Allen said, "That was before the album had come out or even been announced and she was wearing the blond wing and a cowboy hat and Jay-Z did that speech. So it's a bit about challenging these institutions that have thus far rejected Beyoncé as the icon and institution that she is of herself."
She added, "Now (Beyoncé is) the most-played woman on country radio, number one, and I guess she's coming for that market. I don't really know why, but who am I to question it? I mean, whatever floats your boat."
As Oliver pointed out, Allen herself is currently working on a new album in Nashville, her first she's recording while sober.
"I'm not trying to conquer the country market. I'm here because I love country music and always have loved country music; (but I'm) not saying that Beyoncé doesn't," Allen said. "I tell stories in my songs, and country music does the same thing."
Beyoncé asked listeners to enjoy 'art with no preconceived notions'
In February, Beyoncé – who's originally from Houston – became the first Black woman to top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart after her single "Texas Hold 'Em" debuted at No. 1. "Cowboy Carter" features several genre-bending Black artists as well as country music legends Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Linda Martell.
Parton, who appears twice on the record, sang Beyoncé's praises after the album was released on Friday. "Wow, I just heard Jolene," she posted on Instagram. "Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!"
"This ain't a country album. This is a Beyoncé album," the singer posted on Instagram ahead of the release of her eighth studio album.
"Being an innovator often means being criticized, which often will test your mental strength," she said in her acceptance speech for the Innovator Award at Monday's iHeartRadio Awards.
"My hope is that we're more open to the joy and liberation that comes from enjoying art with no preconceived notions."
Contributing: Caché McClay
veryGood! (1747)
Related
- 'Meet me at the gate': Watch as widow scatters husband's ashes, BASE jumps into canyon
- Wisconsin Supreme Court orders pause on state’s presidential ballot while it weighs Phillips case
- The Best Waterproof Shoes That Will Keep You Dry & Warm While Elevating Your Style
- 'Inflection point': Gov. Ron DeSantis sends Florida National, State Guard to Texas
- How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
- Make the best Valentine's Day card with these hilariously heartfelt jokes and pickup lines
- You might be way behind on the Oscars. Here's how you can catch up.
- Take it from Jimmy Johnson: NFL coaches who rely too much on analytics play risky game
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Former Ohio Senate President Stanley Aronoff dies at 91
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Firm announces $25M settlement over role in Flint, Michigan, lead-tainted water crisis
- Florida House votes to loosen child labor laws a year after tougher immigrant employment law enacted
- Her son was a school shooter. She's on trial. Experts say the nation should be watching.
- Tropical weather brings record rainfall. Experts share how to stay safe in floods.
- Manchester United vs. Wolves live score: Time, TV channel as Marcus Rashford returns
- Police search for two missing children after remains found encased in concrete at Colorado storage unit
- Sen. Tom Cotton repeatedly grills Singaporean TikTok CEO if he's a Chinese Communist
Recommendation
American news website Axios laying off dozens of employees
Ravens TE Mark Andrews helps aid woman with medical emergency on flight
Police officer found guilty of using a baton to strike detainee
Former Atlantic City politician charged with election fraud involving absentee ballots
PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day Wednesday August 7, 2024
What to know as Republicans governors consider sending more National Guard to the Texas border
Terry Beasley, ex-Auburn WR and college football Hall of Famer, dies at 73
What are the Iran-backed groups operating in the Middle East, as U.S. forces come under attack?