Kim Carnes, the legendary singer behind the original "Bette Davis Eyes," was less than enthused by JoJo Siwa's recent musical venture into her 1981 hit. In a July 14 statement to TMZ, Kim candidly shared her thoughts on the Dance Moms alum's cover, revealing that it hadn't quite blown her away.
"When I first witnessed my original performance juxtaposed against this new rendition of 'Bette Davis Eyes,' I can only express how it initially impacted me," Kim elaborated. "The phrasing, the tone, even the minute inflections—they all seemed a tad too similar."
However, despite her reservations, the 79-year-old icon stressed her unwavering support for female artists empowering one another. "This industry can be relentless, and I firmly condemn the hate and personal attacks circulating online, directed at me, JoJo Siwa, or anyone else," she continued. "Such conduct has no place in music, or anywhere for that matter."
Kim also emphasized the significance of constructive criticism in the artistic process, which prompted her to share her honest feedback. "I firmly believe artists have the liberty to express openly how something resonates with them—especially when it pertains to something as personal as one's voice," she clarified. "In today's world, our voice is one of the few possessions we genuinely own. Thus, when it feels like your voice is being emulated, it strikes a profoundly personal note."
Fans had already speculated that Kim might not be entirely captivated by JoJo's version of "Bette Davis Eyes," which she first performed live earlier this year, creatively tweaking the lyrics to mention her boyfriend, Chris Hughes. Following JoJo's July 7 TikTok teaser of a studio version, Kim posted a cryptic message, now deleted, that many interpreted as directed at the 22-year-old.
"There lies a distinction between singing a song and embodying it," Kim penned alongside a clip from her "Bette Davis Eyes" music video on July 9. "I've long held the belief that authenticity is what bestows music with timelessness."
While JoJo hasn't publicly responded to Kim's comments, she did share her rationale behind recording her own take on "Bette Davis Eyes" on TikTok on July 7. "After performing this song live and witnessing the wonderful reception it garnered, I decided to lay down a studio vocal," JoJo explained.
