Full Breakdown
Stella Lefty Faces Third Plagiarism Allegation Over “Why Wouldn’t We”
9/4/2026, 8:02:17 PM
New Claim Involving Blake Shelton’s 2017 Hit
The 24-year-old singer-songwriter Stella Lefty is being accused of copying Blake Shelton’s 2017 single “I’ll Name The Dogs” in her track “Why Wouldn’t We,” which appears on her debut album *Long Way Home* released earlier this year. Critics note that both songs share similar melodies, chord progressions, and lyrical themes about dividing everyday responsibilities in a relationship. Neither Lefty nor Shelton has publicly responded to the comparison.
Earlier Controversies Highlight a Pattern
Lefty’s debut single “Boston” previously drew criticism for resembling Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season.” After the similarity was pointed out, Kahan was added to the songwriting credits for “Boston,” and Lefty said she had not intended to copy the song. A second album track, “Summer You Were Mine,” was found to interpolate The Chicks’ 1998 hit “There’s Your Trouble.” The original writers, Tia Sillers and Mark Selby, were initially omitted from streaming credits; Atlantic Records attributed the omission to a “streaming platform error” and later corrected it.
Key Players and Songwriting Credits
- Stella Lefty – vocalist, co-writer of “Why Wouldn’t We” (alongside Emily Weisband, Grady Block, Steph Jones).
- Blake Shelton – performer of “I’ll Name The Dogs,” written by Matt Dragstrem, Ben Hayslip, and Josh Thompson.
- Noah Kahan – original writer of “Stick Season,” later credited on “Boston.”
- Atlantic Records – Lefty’s label, which addressed the crediting error on “Summer You Were Mine.”
Tour Launch and Timeline
Following the album’s release, Lefty announced an 18-date North American headline tour. The tour began in Detroit on January 8 and will conclude in Chicago on February 20.
Reception and Commentary
Music-industry observers have highlighted the repeated accusations, noting that Lefty’s privileged background—her father Eric Lefkofsky is the co-founder of Groupon and CEO of Tempus AI—has fueled criticism and the “nepo-baby” label in social-media discourse. While the allegations remain unverified, the pattern of credit adjustments and public scrutiny suggests ongoing challenges to Lefty’s reputation for originality.
