On 13/8, Taylor Swift revealed a series of photos taken by the photography duo Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. The main cover features a collage-style aesthetic. In other images, the artist embodies a showgirl persona, adorned with feathers and rhinestone jewelry.
The posts quickly garnered significant engagement, attracting millions of likes on Instagram. On X (formerly Twitter), the photos amassed over 7 million views within hours of posting. Fans expressed excitement over Swift's new looks.
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a "showgirl" refers to a female singer or dancer in musical comedies or nightclubs, known more for their elaborate costumes than their dancing skills.
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Taylor Swift on the cover of her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl". Photo: Instagram/ Taylor Swift |
Taylor Swift on the cover of her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl". Photo: Instagram/ Taylor Swift
That same day, appearing on the "New Heights" podcast hosted by her boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother, Swift announced the album's release date as 3/10. She described the project as being inspired by the joy of her "The Eras Tour" (2023-2024). "This album is about what happens behind the scenes, inside my head, during this tour—an energetic, excited, and fun ride. It comes from the most joyful, wild, and dramatic moments. That vibrancy translates into this recording," she explained.
The cover art depicts Swift submerged in water, symbolizing the end of a show. "When you're on tour, days blend together," Swift said. "My day usually ends with me in the bathtub, not always in a sparkly dress."
She wanted a behind-the-scenes moment for the main image because the album "isn’t really about what I experience onstage." Therefore, she opted against a picture under bright stage lights. "I felt this choice better represented the lyrics and content," she added.
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The album features 12 songs co-written by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback. The title track, "The Life of a Showgirl", is a duet with "Espresso" singer Sabrina Carpenter. Photo: Instagram/ Taylor Swift |
The album features 12 songs co-written by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback. The title track, "The Life of a Showgirl", is a duet with "Espresso" singer Sabrina Carpenter. Photo: Instagram/ Taylor Swift
Regarding the tracklist, Swift confirmed there will be no additional songs. This contrasts with the release of her 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department", in 4/2024, where she added several tracks after the initial announcement, expanding it from 16 to 31 songs. This time, she believes each song fits perfectly, with nothing to remove or add.
"The focus and discipline in creating a record, and holding myself to a high standard is something I've wanted to do for a long time. I usually write a lot, so I’m always tempted to release new music. But this time, I wanted to make an album focused on quality, theme, and have everything fit together like a perfect puzzle, with 12 tracks for the 12th album. I feel I’ve succeeded and am happy about that," Swift added.
Taylor Swift introduces her new music on the "New Heights" podcast with boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce, revealing she produced the album while touring Europe. Video: New Height
Born in 1989, Taylor Swift is known as America's "country-pop princess". Debuting in 2006, she quickly achieved success. In her nearly 20-year career, she has won 14 Grammys, 30 VMAs, and embarked on several major tours. In 2023, she was named TIME's "Person of the Year". In 11/2024, Billboard ranked her second in their "Top 25 Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century". According to Forbes, her current net worth is 1.6 billion USD.
Phuong Thao (Variety, People)
