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Taylor Swift releases 12th album The Life Of A Showgirl as a self-portrait

todayOctober 3, 2025 1

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Taylor Swift has released her 12th studio album, The Life Of A Showgirl, which she calls a self-portrait. The record arrived at 5am in the UK, with fans waking early to hear it. In an Instagram post she said she was ‘so proud’ to share the new record and that it ‘feels so right’.

Swift thanks mentors and producers Max Martin and Shellback, saying they helped her paint this self-portrait. She said the album was recorded in Europe during the Eras Tour, reuniting with Martin and Shellback, marking a return to working with the Swedish duo since Reputation in 2017. Since then she has collaborated with Jack Antonoff and The National’s Aaron Dessner.

The release comes with confirmation of a music video for the first track, The Fate Of Ophelia, and a set of track titles including Elizabeth Taylor, Opalite, Eldest Daughter and Ruin The Friendship. Opalite has prompted speculation it could reference her fiancé Travis Kelce, whose birthstone is opal. Eldest Daughter is the fifth track, and there has been online chatter that Ruin The Friendship could be about Blake Lively. Elizabeth Taylor appears to nod to the actress, continuing Swift’s pattern of naming songs after famous people. The singer has previously referenced Tim McGraw and Clara Bow in older songs. She has also written about Rebekah Harkness, Ethel Kennedy, and romantic partners such as John Mayer, Harry Styles, Joe Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor Kennedy.

Swift is due to appear on Capital Breakfast at 8am with hosts Jordan North and Sian Welby and on The Graham Norton Show on Friday, alongside Cillian Murphy, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith and Domhnall Gleeson. The Life Of A Showgirl is her first release since confirming her engagement to Kelce and regaining control of her back catalogue in May. It follows 2024’s The Tortured Poets Department. On Friday, cinemas will host The Official Release Party Of A Showgirl, featuring the world premiere of The Fate Of Ophelia, behind‑the‑scenes footage, lyric videos and commentary on the music. The 89‑minute film will be shown nationwide, with screenings at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square already sold out for 8:15pm and 8:45pm. Swift will then travel to the United States for The Tonight Show on 6 October and Late Night With Seth Meyers on 8 October, in a special episode billed as ‘TAY/kover’. The album was announced on the New Heights podcast, hosted by Travis Kelce and his brother Jason.

This article was written with AI assistance and reviewed by a human editor before publication.

Written by: TKONews

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