Jack White has finally opened up about his rather unexpected collaboration with Beyonce on her hit 'Lemonade' album. The former White Stripes frontman was listed as a producer, writer and guest vocalist on her song 'Don't Hurt Yourself', and he's only now spoken up about it.

Jack WhiteJack White featured on 'Don't Hurt Yourself'

Currently promoting his acoustic compilation album 'Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016', White spoke to NPR's radio show 'All Things Considered' about how Beyonce approached him to work with her on her scandalous surprise album 'Lemonade'.

'I just talked to her and she said, 'I wanna be in a band with you.' I said, 'Really? Well, I would love to do something.' I've always loved her voice', he explained. 'I mean, I think she has the kind of soul singing voice of the days of Betty Davis or Aretha Franklin. So, I was really happy to work with her. She took just sort of a sketch of a lyrical outline and turned into the most bodacious, vicious, incredible song.' 

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White has plenty of newfound respect for the 20-time Grammy winning superstar after joining her on 'Don't Hurt Yourself'. 'I don't even know what you'd classify it as -- soul, rock and roll, or whatever it is', he continued. ''Don't Hurt Yourself' is incredibly intense; I'm so amazed at what she did with it.'

White's 26-track 'Acoustic Recordings 1998-2016' was released on September 9th 2016 via XL Recordings and his own imprint Third Man. It features gorgeous acoustic renditions of tracks the likes of The White Stripes' 'City Lights' and 'Honey, We Can't Afford To Look This Cheap', and 'Carolina Drama' from his other band The Raconteurs.

He performed a medley of 'Love Is the Truth' (from the White Stripes' Coca-Cola commercial) and 'You've Got Her in Your Pocket' (from the White Stripes' 2003 album 'Elephant') during his appearance on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon'. 

Listen to Jack White's full NPR interview here: