Taylor Swift has announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” following a mysterious online countdown that sent fans into a frenzy, per variety.com. In a surprise reveal, Swift, known for her meticulously crafted fan interactions, unveiled the album title on the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason.
The announcement came precisely as a countdown on Swift’s website hit zero at 12:12am ET, a time laden with numerological significance for her dedicated fanbase. Just hours earlier, the “New Heights” podcast had teased a “VERY special guest,” and fans, or “Swifties,” quickly deduced the guest’s identity from a cleverly placed silhouette in the promotional material.
“The Life of a Showgirl” marks Swift’s first album since her landmark acquisition of her master recordings, a catalogue that was at the centre of a years-long ownership dispute. In May, Swift confirmed she had purchased her back catalogue, initially released through Big Machine Records, from Shamrock Capital. While the exact sum was not disclosed, she described the purchase as a dream come true, giving her full autonomy over her work.
The new album follows the monumental success of her 2024 double album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which became the best-selling album of the year. The announcement of her latest project comes as fans eagerly await the re-recorded “Taylor’s Version” releases of her final two Big Machine albums, “Reputation” and her self-titled debut.
