Learn the story behind the Grammy Award-winning song 'Bette Davis Eyes'

Hit songwriter Jackie DeShannon knew something special had happened with her song "Bette Davis Eyes" when she was approached in a retail store by Jack Nicholson who complemented her on it.

Not long after, Davis herself also reached out to DeShannon with praise for the song bearing her name.

Nashville Songwriters Association International Executive Director Bart Herbison sat down with DeShannon to talk about the song she co-wrote with Donna Weiss, recorded in the early 80s by Kim Carnes, that became a phenomenon.

"Bette Davis Eyes" won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Record of the Year in 1981. Taylor Swift even covered the song during her Speak Now world tour in 2011 — thirty years after Carnes' version was released. Interestingly enough, DeShannon recorded a much different version of the song from the one Carnes made famous.

"We made more of a contemporary record... but when I went in to record it, not having leverage in my contract, not having the proper legal language, my vision was overshadowed by the vision of the producer. And there wasn't anything that I could do about it," DeShannon said.

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But in the end, DeShannon says Carnes and her producer "... made the most incredible record ever."

"Kim is such a great talent," she said. "She just knocked it so far out of the park. What I was doing didn't work out, but what she did is a phenomenal record, I think. I will brag a little and say that it was Song of the Year, which I'm so proud of. It was number one in so many countries around the world, which is wonderful, but there was something in there that Kim really latched onto. She took the song and made it her own and just blew everybody out. And I'm very grateful."

Jack Nicholson and Bette Davis give feedback on the song

Herbison asked DeShannon if she remembered hearing Carnes' version for the first time.

She remembered hearing it for the first time on the radio.

"I just couldn't believe it," she said. "It was so powerful. I'll tell you who said it was great: Jack Nicholson. I was in a store in Los Angeles and I think the guy introduced me and said something about 'Bette Davis Eyes' and I won't tell you what Jack said. He really loved it."

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What about Davis herself? Did she hear the song?

"Oh yes, Bette heard it and on one of the late night shows she was speaking about how she had been elevated because her grandson thought it was fabulous and that made her a bigger movie star than she already was."

"This episode was done in conjunction with NSAI and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and their songwriter interview series Poets and Prophets. The program was filmed and premiered May 23 as part of the museum’s Live at the Hall digital programs series, available to stream at: https://watch.countrymusichalloffame.org/live-at-the-hall-series."

About the series

In partnership with Nashville Songwriters Association International, the "Story Behind the Song" video interview series features Nashville-connected songwriters discussing one of their compositions. For full video interviews with all our subjects, visit www.tennessean.com/music.