Taylor Swift has officially announced her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, during a teaser for the upcoming episode of the New Heights podcast, co-hosted by her boyfriend, NFL star Travis Kelce, and his brother Jason Kelce. The episode is set to air on Wednesday, August 13, at 7 p.m. ET.
In a video shared on Instagram at 12:12 a.m. ET on August 12, Swift revealed the album’s title by unveiling a mint green briefcase with her initials, “T.S.,” embossed on it. Inside the briefcase was a blurred image of the album’s cover, which fans are eagerly speculating about. The video quickly garnered significant attention, with Swift’s website briefly crashing due to high traffic as fans rushed to pre-order the album.
The album is available for pre-order in vinyl, CD, and cassette formats, with shipments expected before October 13. However, the official release date has yet to be announced. Swift’s website includes a disclaimer stating, “THIS IS NOT THE RELEASE DATE, OFFICIAL RELEASE DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED.”
The Life of a Showgirl marks a significant departure from Swift’s previous work, The Tortured Poets Department, released in April 2024. The new album is produced by Max Martin and Shellback, known for their work on Swift’s earlier hits, including 1989 and Reputation. This collaboration suggests a return to a more pop-oriented sound, with Swift describing the album’s style as “glitter gel pen pop” — fun, lighthearted tracks designed to inspire dancing and joy.
The announcement follows a series of cryptic teasers from Swift, including a countdown on her website and a carousel of 12 images posted by her official fan account, Taylor Nation. These clues led fans to speculate about the new era, with many dubbing it the “orange era.” Additionally, Swift shared a Spotify playlist titled “And baby, that’s show business for you,” featuring tracks produced by Max Martin and Shellback, further hinting at their involvement in the new album.
This release is particularly notable as it follows Swift’s recent acquisition of the master recordings for her first six albums. In May 2025, she regained full ownership of her music catalog, granting her greater creative control over her future projects.
Fans can look forward to more details during Swift’s appearance on the New Heights podcast, where she is expected to discuss the new album and her relationship with Travis Kelce. The episode is set to air on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.
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