Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Singer Lily Allen Called Out After Questioning Beyoncé For 'Calculated' Move Into Country Music

Lily Allen; Beyoncé
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Burberry; Michael Buckner/Billboard via Getty Images

Allen was met with some backlash after questioning why Beyoncé chose to cover 'Jolene' on her album 'Cowboy Carter' and claiming the whole foray into country music has been 'calculated.'

Cowboy Carter is here, y'all, and there's no stopping it (hallelujah and yeehaw).

Beyoncé's act ii album has made its way to our ears and into our hearts since its release just a couple of weeks ago, and people far and wide have weighed in on the tracks now topping the country music charts.


Dolly Parton even took to social media to praise the singer's cover of her song "Jolene," writing:

"Wow, I just heard Jolene."
"Beyoncé is giving that girl some trouble and she deserves it!"
"Love, Dolly P"

And Sir Paul McCartney did the same, giving his accolades to Beyoncé's version of his 1968 hit "Blackbird."

"I am so happy with @beyonce’s version of my song ‘Blackbird.'"
"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!"

But one person apparently not too keen on Bey's country music takeover is singer Lily Allen, who found it "very weird" that Beyoncé decided to cover "Jolene."

The English singer-songwriter discussed the album this week on her podcast Miss Me? with cohost cohost Miquita Oliver.

"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."
"I mean, you do you, Beyoncé."
"And she literally is doing her — or is she doing Dolly?"

Her cohost then added that it seems to be "forcing itself to be part of its own narrative."

Allen agreed, saying that she felt it all to be a "calculated" move, connecting the album's release to Jay-Z's Grammy' speech in which he noted Beyoncé has yet to win Album of the Year.

"When Jay-Z got up and said that thing, that was part of this campaign."
"It was before the album had come out or even been announced, and she was wearing the blonde wig and a cowboy hat."

She continued:

"It's a bit about challenging these institutions that have thus far rejected Beyoncé as the icon and institution that she is of herself. Now she’s the most played woman on country radio."

Allen then added:

"I guess she's coming for that market."
"Who am I to question it?"

You can listen below.

Beyoncé revealed just before the album's release that Cowboy Carter came from a place of unacceptance and intolerance, likely referring to the 2016 Country Music Awards where her performance of her country pop song "Daddy Lessons" alongside The Chicks was not well-received by viewers.

The 32-time Grammy winner wrote on Instagram:

"This album has been over five years in the making."
"It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t."
"But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive."
"It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history."

Given Beyoncé's Texas roots and the origin of act ii, people on social media did not take too kindly to Allen's critique.

from Fauxmoi



from Fauxmoi



from Fauxmoi



from Fauxmoi



from Fauxmoi


from Fauxmoi




Many also thought it was hypocritical of Allen to bash Beyonce's two-step into the country arena when she herself is working on a country album.

No, seriously, she is.

But when her cohost brought up that fact, Allen rebutted:

"But I'm not, like, trying to conquer the country market. I'm here because I've loved country music and always have loved country music — not saying Beyoncé doesn't — but I tell stories in my songs, and quite a lot of country music does the same thing. I think it's well-suited to what it is that I do."
from Fauxmoi



from Fauxmoi



from Fauxmoi


We think it's safe to say Allen's opinions are hers alone—and she really doesn't have room to talk.

More from Trending

Screenshots of Pete Hegseth attempting a grapevine workout with Navy members
@DOWRapidResponse/X

Pete Hegseth Is Getting Roasted Over His Hilariously Awkward Attempt To Do A Grapevine Workout With Navy Sailors

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was dragged hard on social media after video footage of his attempt at doing a grapevine workout with U.S. Navy soldiers in Singapore went viral online.

Hegseth was in Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, a top regional defense forum. While there, he insisted the American military is not "turning our backs" on Asia while fulfilling "global obligations" such as the Iran war.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Jon Ossoff; Donald Trump
@Acyn/X; Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

Jon Ossoff Perfectly Explains Why Trump Wants To Build His Ballroom And Put His Face On Money—And Yep, That Tracks

Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff called out President Donald Trump at a rally in Atlanta on Sunday, saying Trump's plans to build a ballroom at the White House and his push to put his face on $250 bills say a lot about why he is "a failed president."

Last year, Trump ordered the demolition of the entire East Wing to make way for a 90,000 square-foot ballroom that will dwarf the size of the White House itself, sparking alarm from historical preservationists and the public alike.

Keep ReadingShow less
After Lisa Kudrow (left) recounted being mistaken for Dionne Warwick (right), the singer weighed in with a priceless response.
XNY/Star Max/GC Images; Amy Sussman/WireImage via Getty Images

Lisa Kudrow Reveals She Was Once Mistaken For Dionne Warwick—And Warwick's Reaction Is Hilariously Priceless

Celebrity mix-ups are practically their own meme at this point, but Lisa Kudrow being mistaken for Dionne Warwick probably wasn't on anyone's 2026 bingo card. It all unfolded during a recent Hollywood Reporter Comedy Actress Roundtable featuring Ashley Padilla, Hannah Einbinder, Keke Palmer, Quinta Brunson, Rachel Sennott, and Kudrow herself.

The actresses were asked about the strangest fan interactions they'd ever experienced, and Kudrow's answer quickly stole the conversation.

Keep ReadingShow less
Jamie Lee Curtis and Kelly Lee Curtis
Brian To/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Jamie Lee Curtis Pens Poignant Tribute To Her Sister And 'First Friend' After Her Death At 69

It's said that our first friends, and among our most treasured, are often our siblings or cousins. This was certainly true for Jamie Lee Curtis and her big sister, Kelly.

Kelly Lee Curtis, best known for Magic Sticks and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, passed away last weekend, surrounded by the things and people that she loved.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tina Fey addressed the viral Timothée Chalamet "manspreading" discourse during a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast.
@newheightshow/Instagram; Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Tina Fey Just Hilariously Cleared The Air After Timothée Chalamet 'Manspreading' Next To Her At Knicks Game Went Viral

What started as a viral photo from a Knicks game quickly became one of the internet's favorite celebrity storylines. Now, Tina Fey is clearing the air about the alleged "manspreading beef" with Timothée Chalamet while sharing what the Oscar nominee and Kylie Jenner were actually like off-camera.

For those who don't recall, Chalamet found himself at the center of countless memes after social media users accused him of "manspreading" next to Fey during a Knicks game in April. The photo that launched a thousand jokes showed Fey seated beside Chalamet, with the actor positioned between the comedian and Jenner while sporting a Knicks cap and a notably wide stance.

Keep ReadingShow less