Celebrating 45 Years of a Timeless Classic While Looking Ahead to a New Chapter
As music fans celebrate the 45th anniversary of “Bette Davis Eyes” reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100, it is impossible to tell the story of one of pop music’s most enduring hits without recognizing the woman who co-wrote it: Jackie DeShannon.
While Kim Carnes’ unforgettable recording turned the song into a global phenomenon in 1981, the brilliance of “Bette Davis Eyes” began years earlier with Jackie DeShannon and songwriter Donna Weiss. Their composition would go on to become one of the most recognizable songs in popular music history, earning a permanent place in the American songbook and introducing a new generation to DeShannon’s remarkable songwriting talents.
Today, 45 years after the song dominated the charts, Jackie DeShannon remains as relevant as ever. Rather than simply looking back at her extraordinary legacy, she continues to create new music that reflects the wisdom, heart, and storytelling that have defined her career for more than six decades.
Her latest release, “Girl of Yesterday,” is a poignant reminder that great artists never stop evolving. The song reflects on memory, experience, and the passage of time while embracing the strength that comes from living a life filled with love, loss, triumph, and creativity. It is both deeply personal and universally relatable, offering listeners a reflection on who they were, who they have become, and the journey in between.
The release arrives at a particularly meaningful moment. As fans revisit the legacy of “Bette Davis Eyes,” “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” “When You Walk in the Room,” and countless other classics, “Girl of Yesterday” demonstrates that Jackie DeShannon is not simply a legendary songwriter—she is a living, breathing artist still finding new ways to connect with audiences.
Few performers can claim a career that spans generations while continuing to produce work that feels fresh and authentic. Jackie’s influence can be heard throughout contemporary music, yet her newest recordings prove that her own voice remains as powerful and distinctive as ever.
Forty-five years after “Bette Davis Eyes” captivated the world, Jackie DeShannon is once again reminding listeners why her music endures. Girl of Yesterday is not a farewell to the past—it is a celebration of it, and a testament to an artist whose creative spirit continues to shine brightly into the future.
For Jackie DeShannon, yesterday may hold extraordinary memories, but her story is still being written today.