Taylor Swift Drops New Album News on Kelce Brothers' Podcast

Tonight, Taylor Swift makes her highly anticipated podcast debut on New Heights, the show hosted by her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason Kelce. And it’s not just any appearance: she used it to announce her 12th studio album, titled The Life of a Showgirl, set to drop on October 3, 2025.

She revealed all the essentials—cover art, a 12-track list, and even a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter on the title track. The production lineup reads like Swift pop royalty: she co-produced with Max Martin and Shellback, reconnecting after earlier-era work on Red, 1989, and Reputation. Fans noted that longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner are absent from this project.

Taylor teased the announcement with a dramatic countdown, colored heavily in orange—plus clues like orange outfits and even an orange door from her Eras Tour. When the clock struck 12:12 a.m. Eastern on August 12, her website crashed under traffic before revealing the album’s title and opening pre-orders for CD, vinyl, cassette, and poster bundles.

On the podcast, Swift described the album as bright, energetic pop, a reflection of her inner life during the European leg of the Eras Tour. She said it’s “a record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time”. It’s an upbeat shift from her 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department and a sign she’s entering a bold, new creative chapter

Her creative team includes returning collaborators Max Martin and Shellback longtime partners from her Red, 1989, and Reputation eras. She described the album as “infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic,” inspired by the emotional ups and downs during her Eras Tour.

The track list includes:

1. The Fate of Ophelia
   
   

2. Elizabeth Taylor
   
   

3. Opalite
   
   

4. Father Figure (a George Michael cover)
   
   

5. Eldest Daughter
   
   

6. Ruin the Friendship
   
   

7. Actually Romantic
   
   

8. Wi$h Li$t
   
   

9. Wood
   
   

10. CANCELLED!
    
    

11. Honey
    
    

12. The Life of a Showgirl (featuring Sabrina Carpenter)

A Personal Touch

Swift also shared deeply personal updates, something she’s rarely done this candidly. She got emotional while recounting the moment she regained ownership of her master recordings, calling them her “hand-written diary entries.” Her mother and brother negotiated her masters with Shamrock Capital, and she “collapsed in tears” when she finally heard the news. Tragedy and triumph wrapped into one. She also updated listeners on her parents—her mom recently had knee surgery, and her dad underwent quintuple bypass surgery this summer, providing a rare glimpse into her private life.

Love, Laughter, and Football

Swift and the Kelce brothers radiated easy chemistry throughout. She joked about how Travis pursued her, starting with an attempt to gift her a friendship bracelet during her 2023 concert that felt straight out of an ‘80s John Hughes movie.

Sports fans might balk, but Swift admitted she’s become invested in the NFL, not enough to analyze games, but don’t count it out eventually.

They talked about how grueling her Eras Tour was she trained on treadmills between sets, while he had his own recovery routines. The shared physical and emotional demands created a bridge between their different yet familiar worlds.

They also compared how they both weather intense media scrutiny. Swift joked that headlines with her name often feel like “none of my business,” and Travis credited her for showing him how to handle the spotlight like a pro. 

A Record-Breaking Episode

Swift’s podcast appearance broke records. The New Heights episode racked up nearly 3 million YouTube views within three hours and was a major spotlight for the Kelces’ show. Industry insiders note Swift’s appearance expanded the podcast’s reach well beyond sports fans.

Why It Matters

This episode wasn't just an album promotion, it was a vivid look into Taylor Swift’s creative mind, personal life, and romantic world. She unveiled a new album, shared a heartfelt victory over music industry battles, and did it all while laughing and connecting in front of millions, it's Swift at her most confident, transparent, and human.