‘Ted Lasso’ Just Rewrote Its Classic Formula for the Second Time in 4 Seasons

Published Oct 8, 2026, 6:58 PM EDT

Kendall Myers is a Senior Author with Collider. As part of the TV and Movies Features team, she writes about some of the most popular releases before, during, and after they premiere. In three years, she has written over 900 articles with topics ranging from classic sitcoms to fantasy epics.

Editor's note: The below contains spoilers for the Ted Lasso Season 4 finale.

Ted Lasso Season 4 has introduced several changes, from the focus on the women's team to the many new faces in the cast, but one element has remained consistent… at least until this week's finale. The show's opening theme song, initially written and performed by composer Tom Howe and Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons, has played in every Ted Lasso episode since Season 1, with one other exception. In Season 2's "Beard After Hours," Jeff Tweedy performed a cover that set the episode apart as it followed Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) on a surreal journey.

Season 4's "The Departing Lass" isn't quite as removed from the rest of the show, but Grammy winner Brandi Carlile's slowed-down version of the theme song makes sense. While this new cover is just one of the many surprises in Season 4's finale, it's also perfect for this episode's tone and focus on its female characters.

The Tone of 'Ted Lasso's Season 4 Finale Demands a Different Sound

Theme songs are often overlooked, but they are important for setting the tone, which presented a unique problem for this week's Ted Lasso's finale. Season 4's penultimate episode, "Mae Rides the Bus," ends with a tragic twist, as Mae Green (Annette Badland) collapses after the Lady Greyhounds' victory, with Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham) later informing Ted (Jason Sudeikis) of her death. Thanks to this tragedy, the characters are still in a place of mourning when the finale begins, mourning their departed friend at the Crown & Anchor. This shared grief also leads to an emotional conversation between Ted and his son Henry (Grant Feely) in the seconds before the theme song begins. It's a significant part of the story, but Carlile's heart-wrenching new cover is a departure from Ted Lasso's usual theme song.

In an interview with Deadline, co-creator Brendan Hunt explained that after that melancholy scene, it "would've been a bit abrupt" to play Mumford's more upbeat version of Ted Lasso's theme song. Given Sudeikis' real-life friendship with Carlile, the creative team asked her to record a cover, and she agreed, delivering the somber rendition used in the Season 4 finale. It's exactly what the preceding scene calls for, as the characters and audience alike say their final goodbyes to Mae.

Brandi Carlile's Cover of 'Ted Lasso's Theme Song Is Perfect for Season 4

Beyond being appropriate for the moment in question, Carlile's version of the theme song also fits Season 4's larger story. Similar to the way Tweedy's cover mirrors a change in perspective, Carlile's represents the season's overall focus on the women's team, marking the first time a female artist has ever performed the Ted Lasso theme song. It's a cover that takes on even more meaning in hindsight once the Season 4 finale introduces a major shift at the end by revealing that Alice (Tanya Reynolds) will take over as the Lady Greyhounds' head coach.

Ted Lasso hasn't been renewed for Season 5 yet, and if it returns, Carlile's rendition theme song likely won't be a permanent fixture. Hunt had nothing but praise for Carlile's cover, going as far as to say that the "30-second version here is good, but I've heard the whole version, and it literally brought me to tears." Luckily, fans don't have to take his word for it. Carlile's full track is available on the official Season 4 soundtrack, streaming on both Apple Music and Spotify. Ultimately, this new version of Ted Lasso's theme song proves that the series knows exactly when to make changes to benefit the story — the mark of any successful long-running show.