JoJo Siwa’s Bold Bette Davis Cover Sparks Clash Over Authenticity

12 July 2025

When JoJo Siwa released her studio version of “Bette Davis Eyes” on July 11 she was riding high on the viral buzz generated by a live performance in London. Clad in a vintage-inspired blonde wig and gingham crop top, she transformed into a modern-day tribute to the 1981 classic, dropping her rendition across streaming platforms and dedicating it to her boyfriend Chris Hughes. Her youthful reinvention of the synth-pop hit aimed to “honor the original” while showcasing her own confident flair. But what she didn’t anticipate was the pushback from the song’s original voice.

Kim Carnes, whose iconic raspy vocals made “Bette Davis Eyes” a global sensation and earned her two Grammys, appeared unamused. In a now-deleted TikTok post shared on July 9 Carnes reminded viewers that there is “a difference between singing a song and embodying it” and underscored her lifelong belief that “authenticity is what makes music timeless” Though she didn’t name Siwa, the timing left little doubt about her intended target.

Siwa’s version trades Carnes’s haunting delivery for a heavily auto-tuned, youth-pop aesthetic. Fans had mixed reactions online; some praised the energy, but many criticized the overly processed vocals and lack of raw emotion. One Reddit commenter, quoted via Page Six, quipped “What an awful day to not be deaf,” while another urged Siwa to surround herself with “more honest ppl” The contrast between Siwa’s polished homage and Carnes’s plea for emotional truth highlights a broader debate in reinterpretations.

This isn’t Siwa’s first nod to retro glamour. Just days earlier she revealed a new platinum blonde bob, a 1950s Hollywood-inspired look with delicate curls, red lips, and pearls channeling the aura of Bette Davis herself. She teased the cover on TikTok and Instagram, citing fan feedback from her Mexican concert, where she spontaneously changed lyrics to reference Hughes. The full studio version arrived shortly after.

But where some heard youthful exuberance others found a disconnect. Carnes’s criticism carries weight: her original was not just a hit, it became a cultural touchstone. The song claimed nine weeks at number one, won two major Grammys, and remains synonymous with timeless, gravelly passion. Her subtle rebuke about embodying a song rather than merely performing it suggests that emotional resonance, not just technical reproduction, matters most.

Siwa has not publicly responded to Carnes’s remarks. Representatives for both artists declined comment beyond existing social media posts. But the story underscores tension between generations of performers: the viral generation that thrives on reinterpretation and the legacy artists who shaped the original landscape.

This clash illustrates how covers walk a precarious line. A fresh take can introduce classics to new audiences, but it risks alienating purists if emotional truths feel erased. In Siwa’s case a colorful tribute meets Carnes’s call for authenticity and the debate breaks open for millennials and Gen Z alike: is makeup and a wig enough, or must a song’s soul be reanimated too?

For Siwa this is part of broader evolution. She’s carving a new musical identity beyond Dance Moms fame and YouTube notoriety. In March she hinted at a forthcoming playlist of original tracks . Whether her path leads to chart dominance or creative reinvention depends on how she integrates critique into growth and legitimizes her emerging artistry.

In the end Siwa’s “Bette Davis Eyes” journey is more than a viral spectacle, it’s a symbolic rite of passage. It marks her entry into territory where heritage meets hype, nostalgia meets newness. For fans it’s fodder for debate; for Siwa it’s a lesson on the power of feeling behind the music.