Lily Allen Says Beyoncé Covering Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” Is “Very Weird”
Lily Allen has shared her opinion on Beyoncé’s decision to remake a country music classic.
On her podcast Miss Me?, co-hosted by Miquita Oliver, the two women voiced their thoughts on Beyoncé covering Dolly Parton‘s “Jolene.”
“It’s very weird that you cover the most successful songs in that genre,” explained Allen, per Complex.
Oliver added, “But I also feel like ‘Jolene”s such an excellent song. Like, I’ve listened to the story of how Dolly Parton wrote it in about 20 minutes, like, over and over, because I just think it’s so genius. And I don’t know, it just felt a little bit like a kind of standard hip-hop beat under a ‘Jolene’ cover.”
Allen continued, “Yeah, I just feel like it’s quite an interesting thing to do when you’re like trying to tackle a new genre and you just choose the biggest song in that genre to cover,” Allen said. “I mean, you do you, Beyoncé, and she literally is doing her. Or is she doing Dolly?”
Queen Bey’s “Jolene” is featured on her latest album COWBOY CARTER, released last month. Ahead of the album’s release, Parton shared enthusiasm for the remake before the track was confirmed.
“I think she’s recorded ‘Jolene’ and I think it’s probably gonna be on her country album, which I’m very excited about that,” detailed the 78-year-old. She continued to profess her love for the Grammy Award-winning artist, describing Beyoncé as “a beautiful girl and a great singer.”
The country music icon also celebrated the first single from the album, “Texas Hold Em,” topping the charts, making the Lemonade performer the first Black woman to debut atop the Country chart and the first artist to top both the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Charts.
Beyoncé accepts the Innovator Award at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at the Dolby Theatre on April 1, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty Images
“Jolene” is not the only lauded cover to be featured on the album. The mother of three enlisted Tanner Addell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts, four Black women rising through the ranks in Country music, for a modern take on The Beatles’ “Blackbird.”
The original song was written by Paul McCartney after he witnessed the mistreatment of Black women in America during the Civil Rights Movement.
“I am so happy with Beyoncé’s version of my song ‘Blackbird,’” shared McCartney. “I think she does a magnificent version of it and it reinforces the civil rights message that inspired me to write the song in the first place. I think Beyoncé has done a fab version and would urge anyone who has not heard it yet to check it out. You are going to love it!”
Listen to COWBOY CARTER below.
