British singer Lily Allen has weighed in on the debate around Beyoncé’s cover of the Dolly Parton classic “Jolene” on her new country album Cowboy Carter, calling the decision “weird.”
On the Miss Me? podcast she co-hosts, Allen questioned why Beyoncé would “tackle a new genre and just choose the biggest song in that genre to cover.”
“It’s very weird that you’d cover the most successful songs in that genre,” the 38-year-old stated, admitting she had only heard parts of the album.
Her co-host Miquita Oliver agreed, saying “I don’t think the ‘Jolene’ one is good…I feel like Beyoncé could’ve done a bit more with it.”
Beyoncé’s country crossover has received a mixed response, with some fans excited for her take on classic hits, while others view her as an “outsider” entering unfamiliar territory.
Released in 1973, “Jolene” is one of Parton’s signature songs, inspired by a bank clerk who famously caught her husband’s eye shortly after their marriage.
The “Smile” singer also suggested Beyoncé, now in her 40s, must be “getting some help” with her youthful look, prompting pushback that she simply has “good genes” from Oliver.
While artists putting their own spin on beloved songs is common, Lily Allen seems to take issue with Beyoncé choosing one of the genre’s most iconic tracks for her first foray into country music.
