Ted Lasso Finale Swaps Theme for Brandi Carlile Cover

The Season 4 finale of Ted Lasso opens with a voice fans have never heard over the titles before.

The episode, titled 'The Departing Lass', is now streaming on Apple TV. Its opening swaps the show's familiar theme for a cover performed by Brandi Carlile, according to Variety.

The usual theme was co-written and performed by Marcus Mumford, of Mumford & Sons, and composer Tom Howe. It has played over almost every episode since the comedy began.

The change was personal. Star and executive producer Jason Sudeikis called Carlile directly to rework the theme for the finale. Sudeikis hosted a Saturday Night Live episode in 2021 where Carlile was the musical guest.

Executive producer and star Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard, told Variety that Sudeikis has been a Carlile fan for years. The pair have seen her play live at multiple shows.

There was a story reason too. Hunt said Sudeikis wanted a woman's voice on the theme to reflect the show's shift this season from the men's team to the women's team. That change puts a new side of AFC Richmond at the centre of the finale.

Carlile already has history with the show. Her cover of 'Home' from The Wiz was previously featured in a Season 3 episode. She is an 11-time Grammy winner, according to Decider.

This is not the first time Ted Lasso has replaced its opening music. The Season 2 episode 'Beard After Hours' dropped the Mumford and Howe theme for an opening song by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. That episode followed Hunt's character through a wild evening away from the team.

What makes this swap stand out is what could come next. Hunt suggested Carlile's version could become the new theme if the show returns for Season 5. No renewal has been announced.

For fans, this means the finale sounds different from the first note. The Carlile recording is listed as 'Ted Lasso Theme (from "Ted Lasso: Season 4")' on Apple Music, as part of the official 'Music from Ted Lasso Season 4' playlist and season soundtrack.