Taylor Swift’s first-ever podcast appearance turned into a record-breaking event. The pop superstar joined her rumored beau Travis Kelce and his brother Jason on their New Heights podcast this week, and the episode blew up online – earning over 13 million YouTube views in just 24 hours. The livestream was so popular it briefly crashed YouTube for some viewers. During the two-hour conversation, Swift laughed about how the podcast indirectly sparked her romance (“Travis first mentioned me on here, so I guess you could say this show set me up with my boyfriend,” she teased). Fans were treated to a rare, unfiltered Swift chatting about everything from NFL fandom to behind-the-scenes tour life – and they got an even bigger surprise when Taylor dropped major music news live on air.
In the midst of the podcast hype, Swift unveiled her next studio album, titled The Life of a Showgirl, and revealed it will be released on October 3. She even held up the album’s glittery cover art on camera as the Kelce brothers cheered. The upcoming record – her 12th album – contains 12 brand-new tracks and was recorded during breaks in her blockbuster Eras Tour. Notably, the project reunites Swift with superstar producers Max Martin and Shellback, and it features a special guest appearance from pop singer (and proud Swiftie) Sabrina Carpenter on the title track. “This is the record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time,” Swift said of the album, which she described as inspired by the vibrant whirlwind of life on tour. “This album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during the tour, which was so exuberant and electric and vibrant… I’m so proud of it, and it comes from the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life,” she explained enthusiastically.
Swift also shared the full tracklist for The Life of a Showgirl, giving fans plenty to dissect before the album drops. The 12-song list includes nods to icons and personal themes, and is as follows:
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“The Fate of Ophelia”
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“Elizabeth Taylor”
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“Opalite”
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“Father Figure”
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“Eldest Daughter”
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“Ruin The Friendship”
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“Actually Romantic”
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“Wi$h Li$t”
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“Wood”
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“CANCELLED!”
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“Honey”
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“The Life of a Showgirl” (featuring Sabrina Carpenter)
With the New Heights episode’s view count still climbing and Swift’s “showgirl era” officially on the way, it’s clear the Taylor Swift takeover isn’t slowing down. Swift’s album The Life of a Showgirl arrives October 3, and if its high-energy reveal is any indication, fans can expect plenty of fireworks – both on the charts and in the stories behind the songs.
