Leona Lewis Tickets

Leona Lewis has hit back at critics who blasted her for performing a cover of ‘Hurt’ which was originally re-recorded by Johnny Cash before his death.

The 25-year-old has released a three-track EP in which she covers two other famous classics – 'Iris' by the Goo Goo Dolls and 'Colourblind' by the Counting Crows. While some felt she should have left these songs untouched, Leona believes otherwise.

“People write music and the music is out there for people to interpret it how they want to,” she told BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat.

“As long as it's coming from a genuine place. I actually am a big fan of that song and a big fan of the Johnny Cash cover. But that song in particular really speaks to me. Lyrically it's a song that is very intense and has painful lyrics,” she continued.

Watch Leona’s performance at the Royal Variety Show below… What do you think of the cover?

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