Lily Allen may have really overstepped with her latest podcast as she took aim at Beyonce’s new album Cowboy Carter, infuriating fans.
The much hyped country album from the beloved singer has stormed up the charts, although her re-writing of Dolly Parton’s Jolene has caused quite a stir.
After discussing virginity on her Miss Me? podcast with long time pal Miquita Oliver, 39, the latest episode saw Lily describe Beyonce’s new record as ‘weird’ and ‘calculated’.
After debating whether or not Jay Z is attractive enough to warrant concern about someone stealing him away, the women turned their attention to the Jolene cover.
The song opens with an introduction from country legend Dolly but is tonally very different, warning the fictitious Jolene rather than begging with her.
‘It’s very weird that you cover the most successful songs in that genre,’ said the Not Fair hitmaker as Miquita declared she doesn’t think the cover is ‘good’.
Giving a more in depth explanation the T4 presenter said it felt like a more ‘generic’ version with a ‘hip-hop beat’ underneath.
‘I feel like Beyonce just could have done a bit more with it,’ she added and called the song ‘bait’.
Along with Jolene, the Love On Top icon covers The Beatles’ Blackbird and makes reference to many other country hits like Patsy Cline’s I Fall to Pieces.
‘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,’ laughed Lily, 38.
She continued: ‘I mean, you do you, Beyoncé, and she literally is doing her. Or is she doing Dolly?’
Miquita then lamented that Cowboy Carter should not be ‘forced’ into the genre of a country album, which her friend replies is intentional.
Referencing the roll out the album has had and the cover artwork, Lily added: ‘I think that it’s been quite calculated.’
Jay-Z’s comments at the Grammys about Beyonce not getting album of the year were deemed to be ‘part of this campaign’ since the XO singer was wearing a blonde wig and cowboy hat at the event.
The women even parroted a bizarre conspiracy theory that Queen Bey might be ‘coming for Taylor Swift’s market’, despite the fact the Karma hitmaker is credited as a backing vocalist on one track.
Furious fans took to X to dismiss Lily’s comments, with many harshly asking ‘who even is she’ and calling her ‘irrelevant’.
User ToykoPro slammed: ‘Every pop album in history has been calculated and developed in basically a music laboratory. This just some weird hate because people not from America believe Black people don’t do country music (despite the rich history of Black country).’
‘Now @lilyallen I like you, don’t put your foot in your mouth,’ tweeted Kia LaShea as Alf scathed: ‘She’s BRITISH and released a country song (Not Fair) but wanna talk about “weird”???? Shut up!!’
Twisting the knife, Beyhive stan Kissfromarose wrote: ‘The most relevant thing she’s done in the last 10 years is marrying David Harbour. No one is checking for her music so I guess you do have to say some [stuff] for attention when your music SUCKS!
‘I want to be angry at this woman, but I don’t even know who she is,’ commented Stefanos … ouch.
Even though Cowboy Carter is promoted as a country album, it is influenced by other music genres, reflecting Beyonce’s life, country, and Black history.
Miquita mentioned that Lily was currently in Nashville, Tennessee, recording a country album, which Lily defended as a genre she enjoys and is suitable for her simple music style.
In the podcast, Lily mentioned that Beyonce is an ‘icon and institution’ and then added: ‘She’s the most played woman on country radio, number one and I guess she’s coming for that market.
‘I don’t really understand why, but who am I to question it, whatever makes you happy.’
