In response, Beyoncé’s PR Director, Joe Barron, dismissed the claims as unfounded and far-fetched. Barron stated that Beyoncé had received explicit permission from Sir Paul McCartney, the original writer of the song “Blackbird,” to use the song in her album. “The idea that Beyoncé’s ‘Blackbird’ sounds like Johnny Cash’s ‘Walkin’ the Line’ is simply absurd,” said Barron. “What exactly are they smoking down there in  Memphis, anyway?”

The case raises important questions about the intersection of musical inspiration and intellectual property rights. Artists often draw inspiration from different sources, and the line between homage and infringement can sometimes be blurred. Legal disputes such as this one highlight the challenges musicians face when incorporating elements of others’ work into their own creations.

Neither Johnny Cash nor Elvis Presley could comment on the situation, leaving it up to the courts to decide whether Beyoncé’s use of the contested music is a tribute to the late country legend or a violation of his trademark.