UPDATE — 7/15/25, 8:10 a.m. ET: Kim Carnes has formally weighed in on JoJo Siwa's “Bette Davis Eyes” cowl days after reportedly sharing (and deleting) her ideas by way of social media.
“After I first noticed my authentic efficiency positioned facet by facet — after which layered on high of — a brand new model of ‘Bette Davis Eyes,' I can solely converse to the way it initially struck me,” Carnes, 79, told TMZ on Monday, July 14. “ The phrasing, the tone, even the little inflections — all of it felt a bit too shut.”
Regardless of not being an enormous fan of the brand new model, Carnes defended Siwa, 22, from the web vitriol that's been directed at her lately.
“I'm all for feminine artists lifting one another up,” Carnes continued. “This enterprise could be brutal, and I strongly reject the sort of hate and private assaults I've seen on-line — whether or not directed at me, JoJo Siwa, or anybody else. That sort of conduct doesn't belong in music, or anyplace.”
She added, “On the identical time, I consider artists have the fitting to talk overtly about how one thing makes them really feel — particularly when it's as private as your voice. Today, our voice is without doubt one of the few issues we actually personal. So when it appears like your voice is being borrowed, it strikes a deeply private chord.”
After teasing her cowl of the music by way of social media final week, Siwa launched the total model on Friday, July 11.
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JoJo Siwa's cowl of “Bette Davis Eyes” is making waves throughout social media — and seemingly with singer Kim Carnes, who popularized the hit within the '80s.
Carnes, 79, seemingly supplied her soak up a since-deleted Instagram put up shared via Reddit on Wednesday, July 9. “There's a distinction between singing a music … And embodying it,” Carnes reportedly wrote. “I've at all times believed authenticity is what makes music timeless … I'm endlessly grateful to be the voice behind this one … Bette Davis Eyes.”
Whereas Carnes' put up didn't explicitly identify Siwa, 22, many followers theorized that the comment was a reference to her latest cowl. Earlier this week, the Dance Mothers alum shared a snippet of herself singing “Bette Davis Eyes” in an Instagram video.
“After performing this music reside after which seeing the attractive response to it, I made a decision to go file a studio vocal,” she wrote on Monday, July 7. “I'm undecided if I ought to launch it on Spotify or not…. Would you need me to?!!!🤍 when you would, I'm pondering possibly finish of this week?”
Siwa additionally shared another snippet with the caption, “Fascinated about releasing it this Friday, however nonetheless not sure. sharing a lil little bit of verse 1 to see when you assume I ought to or not!”
On Thursday, July 10, Siwa confirmed that she's planning to formally launch the monitor as a single. “My cowl of ‘Bette Davis Eyes' is popping out TONIGHT at midnight:) might be out there for streaming in every single place you hearken to music!” she wrote by way of Instagram.
Carnes launched “Bette Davis Eyes” in March 1981, and it peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100. Whereas the music is technically a canopy — it was initially recorded by cowriter Jackie DeShannon in 1974 — Carnes' model is the one which turned a success.
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Final yr, Carnes defined that DeShannon's cowriter, Donna Weiss, introduced her the demo, however she didn't initially like what she heard.
“I liked the lyrics however not the texture. After we had been in rehearsal for my album, Invoice Cuomo, my longtime keyboard genius, got here up with completely totally different chords and a haunting vibe,” Carnes defined by way of Instagram in October 2024. “I stated to my band, ‘Gary Newman‘s Automobiles file!' … It was a complete collaboration! Invoice Cuomo has by no means gotten the credit score he deserves for utterly altering the vibe and the chords. Invoice made all of the distinction!!!”
Whereas Siwa's cowl is making headlines, she's not the primary individual to place their very own spin on the monitor. Gwyneth Paltrow carried out a model of the hit for her 2000 film Duets, and Taylor Swift launched a reside version of the music after singing it on her Converse Now World Tour. Ethel Cain additionally lined the tune on tour final yr and earlier this month launched “F*** Me Eyes,” which some followers have interpreted as a kind of religious sequel to Carnes' monitor.
