The Life of a Showgirl: Taylor Swift has officially released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, a project that fans have been eagerly awaiting since she first teased it in August on Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast. The album hit streaming platforms on Friday and showcases a shift back to bright, energetic pop.Sabrina Carpenter joins as guest artistThe record features a collaboration with pop star Sabrina Carpenter, marking their first major project together. The lead single, The Fate of Ophelia, will debut with a self-directed music video on Sunday, October 5, at 7 p.m. ET. This is Swift’s first full-length release since The Tortured Poets Department last year.Written and produced with Max Martin & ShellbackAll 12 tracks are co-written and co-produced by Swift alongside renowned hitmakers Max Martin and Shellback. The trio has previously created chart-toppers like Shake It Off and Blank Space. Speaking about the process on the New Heights podcast, Swift said, “It felt like all three of us in the room were carrying the same weight as creators. We’ve been waiting years to come back together and make this project.”The release of The Life of a Showgirl follows Swift regaining ownership of her music masters earlier this year, a battle that has defined much of her recent career. After years of disputes following Scooter Braun’s acquisition of her catalog, Swift was finally able to purchase the rights back in May.The album also arrives shortly after Swift announced her engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce in late August, two years into their relationship. Much of the record was written and recorded during the European leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour.Describing the new sound, Kelce said on the podcast that the album is “a lot more upbeat and full of fun pop excitement,” reflecting a lighter tone compared to Swift’s more introspective recent projects. Swift herself added that working solely with Martin and Shellback was like “catching lightning in a bottle.”With The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor Swift not only returns to her pop roots but also solidifies her control over her music and creative direction, making it a landmark release in her career.
The Life of a Showgirl: Taylor Swift drops 12th album, marks return to upbeat pop
