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It’s been a fortnight and then some since we’ve gotten new Taylor Swift music, but the wait is finally over.
The pop superstar announced her twelve studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, at 12:12 a.m. this morning (get it?), with a surprise post on her website and Instagram. She dropped the announcement on boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, the full episode starring Swift of which will drop on Wednesday—with a lot more details about the upcoming album.
The pop superstar began the countdown two hours prior, with a clock that popped up on the homepage in front of a glittery orange-and-pink background.
Excitement began to build earlier in the day, when Swift’s official fan engagement team, Taylor Nation, shared a series of twelve photos, with a caption that read: “Thinking about when she said ‘See you next era…’ ❤️🔥.” In each of the shots, Swift sported some variation of an orange outfit.
Meanwhile, Swift’s beau, Travis Kelce, announced that he and his brother were going to have a special guest on their New Heights podcast (and it was later revealed to be Swift).
Quickly, fans began to dig up Easter eggs that hinted at what was to come. For instance, Swift notably left through an orange door at the final show of her record-breaking Eras Tour. Meanwhile, her most-recent TikTok video, shared in October 2024, saw Swift walking in front of a sign that said: “A12.” Coincidence? It never is with Tay.
Throughout the first half of 2025, Swift stayed mostly quiet, remaining out of the spotlight save for rare date nights or evenings out with the girls.
Last year, when she released her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, it went on to sell over a million copies in a single week, becoming her seventh studio album to do so and extending her unmatched record. It also went on to receive five nominations at the 67th annual Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year (of which Swift has won four times—also a record). The prize that year went to Beyoncé instead, for her critically-acclaimed Cowboy Carter.
Along with TTPD, Swift also wrapped up her Eras Tour, which became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time, and she celebrated its end with a photo book released around the holidays. Meanwhile, she also bought back the rights to her original masters, while continuing work on secret projects like an upcoming original film, which she is set to direct and write. There’s even been murmurs of engagement rumors.
She may have an album dedicated to her love of midnights, but genuinely when does this woman ever sleep?
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