Here’s Kim Carnes’ Verdict On JoJo Siwa’s ‘Bette Davis Eyes’ Cover

It looks like Kim Carnes wants everything to be done in moderation, and JoJo Siwa is the target of her feelings.

The 79-year-old iconic singer is unsure how to feel about the 22-year-old’s cover of her 1981 hit song, but this does not mean she is a fan of any verbal attacks on the young performer, either.

JoJo Siwa covering Kim Carnes’ song comes on the heels of her canceling her Pride performance and declaring that she was pressured to come out as a lesbian.

Carnes admitted that the first time she heard Siwa’s cover of “Bette Davis Eyes,” she was shocked by the obvious similarities between her version and the original track.

“I can only speak to how it initially struck me. The phrasing, the tone, even the little inflections—it all felt a bit too close,” she noted.

She explained her unwavering support for the empowerment and progress of female artists in such a brutal environment.

Carnes also cautioned against online attacks, which have been directed at her and the former child star, stressing that the behavior does not “belong in music or anywhere.”

Carnes added that singers also deserve to air their grievances about how things make them feel in her statement to TMZ. In her words:

“At the same time, I believe artists have the right to speak openly about how something makes them feel—especially when it’s as personal as your voice. These days, our voice is one of the few things we truly own. So when it feels like your voice is being borrowed, it strikes a deeply personal chord.”

One thing that cannot be taken away from the singer is her love for teasing her fans and generating speculation all the time. She caused significant drama last week when she skillfully indulged pregnancy speculations alongside her boyfriend, Chris Hughes.

As reported by The Blast, she addressed the rumors during a two truths and a lie game while her cover of Carnes’ hit song played in the background.

“1. I’ve never smoked a [cigarette] 2. I’m pregnant 3. This song comes out on Spotify Friday,” read the witty statements as they flashed on the screen of the TikTok video.

The hilarious content was received by fans who disagreed with the notion that she might be pregnant and praised her unbothered demeanor in response to the rumors that arose from her rubbing her stomach.

The vocalist broke many hearts when she announced she would no longer perform at a Pride event in Chicago. Although the organizers blamed a scheduling conflict for Siwa’s decision, fans could not help but give it a deeper context.

Before her scheduled performance, Siwa had reportedly lamented about the pressure she underwent before she identified as a lesbian. The singer initially wanted to come out as pansexual as she did not subscribe to being boxed into a specific identity.

Her wish could not be fulfilled as she revealed that members of the LGBTQ community played a significant role in her spontaneous decision to come out as a lesbian. The community essentially included familiar faces, friends, and people she had dated in the past.

“You just get put in this world where you feel like, because you now have said, ‘Oh, I’m a lesbian,’ you have to be a lesbian. And the truth is, sexuality is fluid,” she declared.

Last month, The Blast reported that Siwa famously denied her sexuality during her conversation with “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” star, Danny Beard, on “Celebrity Big Brother.”

“I’ve never – I think I’ve always told myself, I’m a lesbian. I think you – I think being here – I’ve realized I am not a lesbian, I’m queer,” Siwa declared.

She gleefully declared that she had dropped the “L” and gone the “Q” way. Since dropping the “L” tag, Siwa and her beau, Hughes, have taken giant leaps in their relationship.

She shared that they have begun discussing marriage plans after spending two weeks at his home in the United Kingdom. Siwa described Hughes as her favorite person and noted that what they share is beautiful.

Discussing marriage does not necessarily mean the singer is ready to walk down the aisle with Hughes, as she dismissed the question when asked.