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Lily Allen called Beyoncé’s decision to cover Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” “very weird,” questioning why an artist entering a genre would choose one of its biggest songs. Her comments, reported from the Miss Me? podcast, were about the song choice—not a verdict on all of Cowboy Carter: Allen had heard only some of the tracklist.
What did Lily Allen say about Beyoncé’s “Jolene”?
On the Miss Me? podcast, which she co-hosts with Miquita Oliver, Allen questioned Beyoncé’s choice to cover the song while making a country album. The Independent quoted her as saying, “It’s very weird that you’d cover the most successful songs in that genre,” and, “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.” The Independent’s report says Allen had heard only some of the tracklist, so her remarks should not be read as an assessment of the full album. Oliver separately said she did not think the cover was good; that was Oliver’s judgment, not Allen’s stated argument.
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Why did the cover’s approach matter?
Beyoncé’s version appears on Cowboy Carter, released March 29, 2024. Parton’s 1973 original is framed as a plea: its narrator asks Jolene not to take her partner. Beyoncé shifts the stance toward a warning, making the narrator sound more assured and confrontational. TIME describes the change as a move from a plea to a warning, while Good Morning America likewise contrasts the two narrators’ positions. TIME’s account
That reinterpretation helps explain why the recording is more than a close reproduction of Parton’s arrangement and point of view. But Allen’s reported criticism focused on the choice to cover such a prominent song while entering country, rather than offering a detailed account of the lyric changes.
#1 Best Overall
- Genre: Pop
- Number of Discs: 1
- Number of Tracks: 16
- Number of Albums: 1
- Album Title: Renaissance
How did Dolly Parton react?
Parton had expressed excitement in March 2024 after saying she believed Beyoncé had recorded a cover of her hit, according to the Associated Press. The Associated Press report After the released version reached her, Parton praised it: “Wow, I just heard Jolene. Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it! Love, Dolly P.” Good Morning America reported the statement on release day. Good Morning America’s report
Parton’s response offers a clear contrast with Allen’s reservations about the song choice: the songwriter welcomed Beyoncé’s tougher take on the character and her story.
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Who is credited on Beyoncé’s version?
Beyoncé’s official music page identifies her as the performer and Parton as the writer, while also crediting Beyoncé and collaborators for additional lyrics. Those are distinct credit categories: Parton is credited as the writer, and the page also recognizes the additional lyric contributions on this version. Beyoncé’s official credits
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- BEYONCE 4 (NUEVA EDICION)
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