Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

The Decades-Long Mystery of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”

Carly Simon + You’re So Vain
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Legendary singer-songwriter Carly Simon wrote her hit song “You’re So Vain” in 1971, released it in 1972, and the rest was history.

Since its release, people have been speculating on which among Simon’s ex-lovers the song was about: Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, Jack Nicholson, or Cat Stevens? The answer was only confirmed in 2015, 43 years after the song was released, but somehow, the mystery still remains.

Early Clues

From 1983 to 2001, Carly Simon made it clear that it was not about Mick Jagger, who even contributed uncredited backup vocals to the song.

Later on in 2003, at the Martha’s Vineyard Possible Dreams charity auction, Simon revealed the name of who the song was about to the highest bidder, Dick Ebersol. With a total bid of $50,000, Ebersol won under one condition: he was not allowed to reveal the name. He was, though, allowed to give a clue, and he said that there was an “A” in the name of the person. In just over a year, Simon herself gave more clues: there is also an “E” and “R” in the name.

Is it Warren Beatty?

Beatty ironically claimed in a 2007 interview that “You’re So Vain” was a song about him. In 1983, Simon also said that Beatty was certain that the song was about him, saying that he called her to thank her for the song.

After almost another decade, in 2015, Simon finally confirmed that the second verse of the song was indeed about Warren Beatty. But here’s the catch: Simon added that this still does not mean that the other two verses were also about Beatty, she just confirmed that the second one was.

The “Lost” Fourth Verse

And just when we think that we’re getting closer to the answers, Simon drops yet again another mystery – the lost fourth verse of the song. In an exclusive BBC documentary, Simon performed a fourth verse to her song “You’re So Vain,” stating that she wrote it, but it never made it into the song. This fourth verse may have given us more clues, or it may have just given us another mystery to think about.

Up to this date, only a few people know the real identity of the subject/s of Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”: Dick Ebersol, Howard Stern, Taylor Swift, and a few more of her close friends. This goes to show that Simon not only knows how to give us a hit song, but she certainly also knows how to leave us wanting for more.

Listen to Simon’s performance of “You’re So Vain” in the video below.

Latest Stories

Morgan Wallen Donates $500,000 Worth of Musical Instruments to Students Across the Nation

Morgan Wallen Donates $500,000 Worth of Musical Instruments to Students Across the Nation

Country music superstar Morgan Wallen isn’t just wowing crowds on his One Night at a Time tour; he’s also rocking the world of music education. Through his Morgan Wallen Foundation, ...

Luke Combs and Eric Church's Concert Raises $24M for Hurricane Helene Victims

Luke Combs and Eric Church’s Concert Raises $24M for Hurricane Helene Victims

Country music superstars Luke Combs and Eric Church united for a powerful cause, headlining the “Concert for Carolina” to benefit victims of Hurricane Helene. The star-studded event, held at Bank ...

13 Surprising Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Brad Paisley

13 Surprising Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Brad Paisley

When you think of Brad Paisley, you probably picture the quick-witted country star with a guitar in hand and a string of chart-toppers behind him. But there’s much more to ...

Blake Shelton Honors Elvis Presley with "Suspicious Minds" Cover

Blake Shelton Honors Elvis Presley with “Suspicious Minds” Cover

Elvis Presley’s influence on music is undeniable, and his legacy inspires generations. His 1969 hit “Suspicious Minds” remains a signature track, capturing love, conflict, and heartbreak themes. Decades later, country ...

Alan Jackson Stops "Pop a Top" at CMAs in Honor of George Jones

Alan Jackson Stops “Pop a Top” at CMAs in Honor of George Jones

It’s always remarkable when country legends support each other, especially on music’s biggest stages. Alan Jackson’s unforgettable tribute to George Jones at the 1999 CMA Awards was one such moment, ...

Ben Haggard Pays Tribute to His Dad with "Sing Me Back Home"

Ben Haggard Pays Tribute to His Dad with “Sing Me Back Home”

Stepping into the spotlight with a last name like Haggard carries immense weight. Still, Ben Haggard embraces it with remarkable grace and sincerity. As the youngest son of the legendary ...

Vince Gill and Alison Krauss' Soulful Duet of "Tryin' to Get Over You"

Vince Gill and Alison Krauss’ Soulful Duet of “Tryin’ to Get Over You”

Heartbreak has never sounded as hauntingly beautiful as when Vince Gill and Alison Krauss come together to perform “Tryin’ to Get Over You.” In this breathtaking live duet, their voices ...

Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” Surprise at Tyler Perry Play

Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey” Surprise at Tyler Perry Play

On February 14, 2020, Nashville concertgoers were treated to an unforgettable surprise during Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Farewell Tour stop at Bridgestone Arena. It wasn’t just Madea that left the crowd ...

Allie Colleen Honors Keith Whitley with a Heartfelt Cover of "Don't Close Your Eyes"

Allie Colleen Honors Keith Whitley with a Heartfelt Cover of “Don’t Close Your Eyes”

In 2015, Allie Colleen—daughter of country icon Garth Brooks—delivered a touching tribute to Keith Whitley with her rendition of “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” Shared on her Facebook page, the performance ...

Scotty McCreery Wows the Opry with His “Hello Darlin’” Performance

Scotty McCreery Wows the Opry with His “Hello Darlin’” Performance

In 2015, country artist Scotty McCreery took the stage at the Grand Ole Opry, four years after winning American Idol Season 10. He captivated the audience with a stunning rendition ...

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.