Lily Allen Calls Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' Country Music Campaign 'Pretty Calculated'

From Beyoncé's 'Jolene' cover to Jay-Z's 2024 Grammys speech, Lily Allen has some thoughts on the superstar's new album Country Carter — particularly its placement in the country music landscape.

Talking about the record on her BBC podcast I miss you? On Thursday (April 4), the British singer-songwriter opened up by breaking down Bey's updated take on the Dolly Parton classic — which finds the “Texas Hold'Em” artist singing updated lyrics ostensibly about her husband. For example: “You don't want to live with me, Jolene/ We've been deeply in love for twenty years/ I raised this man, I raised his children.”

“I read a comment from Azealia Banks where she was like, 'Stop talking about Jay-Z like somebody wants to fight him,'” Allen said with a laugh. “Literally, no one even looked at him for about 10 years, relax.”

When co-host Miquita Oliver asked Allen if she personally found the Tidal founder attractive, she replied, “I mean, I'm attracted to power, right?”

“But maybe not physically,” added the singer, who is married Stranger Things star David Harbour. “I don't want to upset my now-husband, but he's not really the physique I'm after.”

The “Smile” artist went on to slam Bey's choice to cover “Jolene.” Cowboy Carter, a move personally endorsed by the country icon. “It's very strange that you cover the most successful songs in this genre,” Allen mused. “I just feel like it's a really interesting thing to do when you're trying to tackle a new genre and you just pick the biggest song in that genre to cover. I mean, you do, Beyoncé, and she literally does. Or is she doing Dolly?'

Concerning the Cowboy Carter As the spread goes, Allen thinks Bey's turn to country was “pretty calculated.” “The front cover is her in a cowboy hat, riding a horse,” she said, noting that she believes Jay-Z's remarks at the 2024 Grammys about the Recording Academy continually snubbing Destiny's Child for album of the year was “place. of this campaign”.

“She was wearing a blonde wig and a cowboy hat [at the Grammys]Allen said. “It's a bit of a stretch to question these institutions that have so far dismissed Beyonce as the icon and institution that she is.”

“Now she's the most played woman on country radio. No. 1,” he continued. “He comes for this market. I don't really know why, but then, who am I to dispute that? Whatever floats your boat.”