Taylor Swift has finally released her new album The Life of a Showgirl, and fans are thrilled. The release is Taylor's 12th studio album, following The Tortured Poets Department, which topped the charts worldwide upon its release in April 2024.
Swift, 35, had been working on the album while on her gigantic Eras Tour, after speaking to Swedish producer Max Martin in May 2024. Following their conversation, she flew to Sweden between shows in order to record the album.
She had previously said that the album reflects the "exuberant and electric and vibrant" energy she felt while on her huge tour, saying it was "the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place" she had ever experienced. We'll be bringing you live updates throughout the exciting day.
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Biggest bombshells
Taylor Swift dropped another lot of bombshells and clues as she released her brand new album The Life of a Showgirl.
From a dig at a fellow pop star, an explicit track about her husband-to-be Travis Kelce and the terrible loss of a good friend, Taylor shares it all.
For more about what Taylor has been saying between the lines in her song, click here.
A fan of London Boys
The Shake It Off singer discussed her love for England and London in particular as she celebrated her album release.
She said on the radio this morning: "I love just getting to travel outside of where I was from, to the places where most of my favourite writers wrote my favourite poems and things like that.
"And also it’s just like, I think you guys are the coolest, I love your sense of humour."
Taylor's song meanings in full
Taylor is one to hide the true meanings of her songs in coded messages throughout her tracks and The Life of a Showgirl is no different.
From feuds reignited in Actually Romantic to X-rated bedroom confessions in Wood and the heartbreaking loss she suffered in Ruin The Friendship, The Mirror have put together a detailed look at all Taylor's songs and what they mean.
Travis' ring flex
Taylor has revealed that Travis designed her ring with a jeweller she had mentioned in passing over a year before.
"He designed it with this amazing jeweller Kendrik Lubek is her name, she does all her gold engraving by hand and I’d shown him a video of, I just thought her stuff was so cool, so I showed him a video a year and a half ago," she said.
"And he was just paying attention to everything it turns out because when I saw the ring I was like “[gasps] I know who made that, I know who made that!” And also he listened to me! It was like, you really know me, I didn’t know what I’d want, but he did somehow and that’s kind of a flex."
Taylor on cinema release
Taylor's album will be celebrated with a special cinema release this evening. Asked why she chose to do this, she explained: "It’s a combination of these things I used to do called secret sessions where I would invite fans to my house and play them the record before it came out.
"I'd explain inspirations behind different parts of songs or why I wrote things a certain way before I would play each song. So, I give them an inside scoop into what went in to writing this particular song and then I'd play it so it's a combination of that and it's a music video debut. It's a premiere of a brand new music video that you can only see in theatres its not going to go on line immediately."
She added: "I was shooting the video and I was directing it and my camera operator, Colin, said 'it's a shame that this isn't going to be seen on like a big screen, it's such a massive production'. And I just was like, yeah, you're right! So we took that moment...
"It's an opportunity for fans to get together, listen through to the new music, have me explain what I wrote it about and also you see a brand new music video and behind the scenes content of how we made the music video."
Taylor's reason for new album
Taylor Swift has revealed that she wrote The Life Of A Showgirl to "stimulate my creative mind" and "fuel the fatigue I was feeling" while performing on the Eras Tour.
Speaking on Capital Breakfast, she said: "I was going from playing shows on this tour to Sweden to write, like so that was that. I know it sounds like it was exhausting, but it’s a different type of feeling you get when you’re on stage for a three-and-a-half-hour show, it’s physically exhausting.
"I needed to stimulate my creative mind and my brain, and make something that would kind of fuel the fatigue I was feeling at that point in the tour."
Fans celebrate the release!
Taylor fans have been celebrating the release of the album, which is now out across the world.
Fans have been eagerly anticipating the release of Taylor's 12th album, which is a follow up to her The Tortured Poets Department LP.
Speaking about the new album, she said: "One thing about this album that I think is really exciting is that oftentimes when I make a record there's like a lag time between when I made it and when it enters the world.
Like for example, my last album, Tortured Post Department, by the time that album came out, I was in a completely different point in my life. With this one I would say that this album is a complete and total snapshot of what my life looks like right now."
Track Five - Eldest Daughter
One of the best tracks on the album, Eldest Daughter details Taylor's tumultous journey to finding love.
Taylor sings about "so many traitors, smooth operators" and documents how she never thought she'd find that "beautiful life that shimmers that innocent light back".
She seemingly is referencing her new love with Travis Kelce and how her love is as pure as childhood. Heartbreakingly, she sings "When I said I don't believe in marriage, that was a lie", she is referencing her dream of finding The One in Travis.
Taylor finally talks about her wedding
Taylor Swift appeared on Radio 1 this morning, where she chatted to her long time friend Greg James about him meeting Travis Kelce and him being invited to their wedding.
"The other thing I was going to say to you is, you and I have known each other for so long - longer than Travis has known you. I just need to check, cause the vibes are strong from him. I think he seems like a great guy, but I need to check for sure. I just want to play catch with him," Greg told her.
Taylor then replied: "No, he would do that - you’ll love that. All of my guy friends are like, ‘I just want Travis to like pick me up and throw me over a roof or throw me in the pool, cause it’s like, you know he’s 6’6’’, but the width of the shoulders is also, like, seeing him walk through a door is genuinely a privilege."
Greg then quips: "Hahaha yeah okay well that’s great, I’d like him to maybe just do a wrestling move on me in the pool or something," with Taylor adding: "The way that he’s going to do that as soon as he sees you at our wedding, that’s gonna happen."
Greg admitted he was stunned to be invited, sharing: "Woah woah woah, am I coming?"
'Goodbye' to fans
Some fans have speculated that this could be Taylor's goodbye to fans as she takes a break to live her life, following her recent engagement to Travis Kelce.
One fan wrote: "This is definitely a see you in a while album. She’s ready to take the next journey in her life as a wife and a mum. So happy for her."
Track Four - Father Figure
Taylor's track Father Figure is seemingly a reference to her very public battle with her old record label.
She sings: "I pay the check before it kisses the mahogany grain / Said, 'They want to see you rise, they don't want you to reign,'" which appear to be a reference to her past managerial teams.
At the end of the song, she sings "This empire belongs to me" - perhaps a nod to her getting her masters back?
Track Three - Opalite
Taylor doesn't really reference her past romances directly - but here she is most open about her failed loves.
"I had a bad habit / Of missing lovers past / My brother used to call it / 'Eating out of the trash' / It's never gonna last," she sings, before adding: "I thought my house was haunted / I used to live with ghosts / And all the perfect couples / Said 'When you know, you know' / And 'When you don't, you don't.'"
Opal is also Travis' birthstone - so what a way to make a nod to her past loves and her new - and forever - one.
Track Two - Elizabeth Taylor
Taylor sparked some backlash with the release of the lyric 'oftentimes it doesn't feel so glamorous to be me' - but the actual meaning of this song couldn't be further from the truth.
She sings: "All the right guys promised they'd stay / Under bright lights, they withered away, but you bloom," in another nod to her husband-to-be.
In the track, she hints that she would have given everything to find The One, before pulling back with "just kidding".
Track One - The Fate Of Ophelia
In the opening song, Taylor sings about swearing herself to single status - until she met Travis.
"And if you'd never come for me / I might've drowned in the melancholy / I swore my loyalty to me, myself, and I / Right before you lit my sky up," she sings - as she references Ophelia's death by drowning in Hamlet.
She references her long wait to find Travis and previous loves as she sings "All that time, I sat alone in my tower / You were just honing your powers," in a heartbreaking admission.
Taylor breaks silence after album release
Taylor Swift has broken her silence on social media following the release of her album.
Taking to her Instagram account, she wrote: "Tonight all these lives converge here / The mosaics of laughter and cocktails of tears / Where fraternal souls sing identical things / And it’s beautiful / It’s rapturous / It is frightening."
She added: "I can’t tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right. A forever thank you goes out to my mentors and friends Max and Shellback for helping me paint this self portrait.
"If you thought the big show was wild, perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain... The Life of a Showgirl is out now."
The Life Of A Showgirl is out!
Taylor Swift has finally released her brand new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, which features a number of tracks including The Fate of Ophelia, Father Figure, Ruin The Friendship, Actually Romantic and CANCELLED!
The opening track is seemingly a nod to Travis as Taylor sings: "It's locked inside my memory and only you possess the key, no longer drowning and deceived all because you came for me."
Later in the track, she thanks the man for saving her from the fate of Ophelia, referencing the character in William Shakespeare's drama Hamlet.
Taylor brought 'great deal of attention' to NFL
Taylor Swift has brought "a great deal of attention" to the NFL American football league, according to its commissioner Roger Goodell. The 35-year-old music star, who became engaged to one of the league’s best-known players Travis Kelce earlier this year, was credited with bringing a younger audience to the game.
Speaking at Leaders Week London, Mr Goodell said: "It's great. She's brought a great deal of attention obviously to the league and with her fanbase, which is a slightly different fanbase than the NFL, but it's brought them into the game.
"As Taylor has said many times, 'I came in not understanding the game as well as I should have, and I love it'. And to see her convert to a fan who really loves the game, yeah, I think it’s a great thing for us, and so all those young fans that are coming in it’s a plus for the NFL."
Taylor Swift appearances in the UK THIS weekend
UK Swifties are on red alert as Taylor has revealed she's going to be in London as she finally unveils her 12th studio album.
The record, which is expected to top charts around the world, will be released at 5am in the UK and Taylor will appear on the Capital Breakfast show shortly afterwards.
Taylor will be joining the programme with hosts Jordan North and Sian Welby at 8am, just hours after the album drops.
She will also appear on The Graham Norton Show on Friday evening, alongside Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy, Tron: Ares actors Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith, and Irish star Domhnall Gleeson.
Taylor Swift's tribute to George Michael
Taylor Swift will pay tribute to one of the legends of pop on Life of A Showgirl, which will include a homage track to george Michael.
'Father Figure' is named after George's 1988 hit of the same name - but there's an unexpected twist. While fans had been thinking that Taylor would sample the single, it has now been leaked that her versin will interpolate the song with a brand new version.
Michael’s ex partner Kenny Goss, however, told TMZ in August that he had heard about a possible interpolation, and that he thought Michael would have loved for Swift to use “Father Figure” in her music.
Taylor has made no secret of her love of George Michael - previously covering Last Christmas on her own festive album.
As well as a nod to George Michael, Taylor Swift also called in pop princess Sabrina Carpenter to feature on her new record's title track.
Go easy on Adele!
Fans are currently hoping to break a record for the number one's albums on Apple Music for album and single releases, which is currently held by Adele.
The most number one tracks on Apple Music Songs is held by Adele for Easy On Me, which topped the charts in 121 countries. A fan account said this week: "We will organise ourselves this time to break the record for #1's on Apple Music for album and single.
"The Fate of Ophelia will need 122 #1s on Apple Music to break the platform's record. The Life of a Showgirl will need 143 #1s on Apple Music Albums.
"We'll only have one version of each according to Taylor, so it'll be 10x easier than other times."
What does Life of the Showgirl mean?
Touring across the globe is one thing, but Taylor showed her dedication to her career by recording the album between shows. Similar to her previous albums, there are several variations of The Life Of A Showgirl that are available to buy, with differences mostly being in artwork. But the core art that will feature on standard albums sees Taylor in a silver beaded bra top and diamond bracelets submerged in water.
Speaking about the record, she said: "This represents the end of my night. So when I’m on tour, I have the same day every single day...And my day ends with me in a bathtub, not usually in a bedazzled dress." She went on to explain that the songs are about her life "offstage".
Who is Ruin the Friendship about?
It's no secret that Taylor and Blake Lively have had a rather messy falling out. Many fans believe that Blake will be referenced on The Life of a Showgirl, mainly the track Ruin the Friendship.
The actress reportedly involved Taylor in her lawsuit against It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni, despite the singer not wanting to be dragged into it. Sources close to Taylor have said she feels like she was "used as an intimidation tactic" by Blake, who is said to have referred to her as one of her "dragons" over text.
One fan made a video with suggested lyrics and referenced the lawsuit. The lyrics included: "I'm gonna ruin the friendship, yeah. I am not naming any names, Blake. No, I never sent those texts, Justin. Don't come running to me."
Another made a similar video, saying: "You threaten me, yeah, you've ruined the friendship." However, there is no confirmation that the track is referencing the fallout.
Tracklist
The album may not be out yet, but fans already know what to expect from the record. However, there won't be any bonus tracks on this release. Here's what will be included:
1. The Fate of Ophelia
2. Elizabeth Taylor
3. Opalite
4. Father Figure
5. Eldest Daughter
6. Ruin the Friendship
7. Actually Romantic
8. Wi$h Li$t
9. Wood
10. CANCELLED!
11. Honey
12. The Life of a Showgirl featuring Sabrina Carpenter
When is the album out?
The Life of a Showgirl will be released across the globe on October 3. As soon as Taylor announced the record, pre-orders were available to purchase on her website.
All the variations are set to be released at the same time, but with the singer's prior albums, Folklore, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department, she continued to record new versions of select songs and release them at later dates. She then released extended versions of the album for sale, so some fans believe the record set to release on Friday is not the only The Life Of A Showgirl we will see.