Chisom Umejiaku
Taylor Swift has confirmed details of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, revealing the cover art, tracklist and release date on Wednesday during an appearance on the New Heights podcast hosted by Travis and Jason Kelce.
The album, set for release on October 3, 2025, will feature 12 tracks, with the closing title track including a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. The tracklist includes “The Fate of Ophelia,” “Elizabeth Taylor,” “Opalite,” “Father Figure,” “Eldest Daughter,” “Ruin the Friendship,” “Actually Romantic,” “Wi$h Li$t,” “Wood,” “CANCELLED!,” “Honey,” and “The Life of a Showgirl.”
Swift said much of the album was written and recorded during the European leg of her Eras Tour, describing it as a project inspired by the physical exhaustion and mental stimulation of performing. The title reflects a theatrical, behind-the-scenes perspective of show business.
The cover image, shot by photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, shows Swift submerged in a glittering showgirl costume against a vintage Vegas-inspired backdrop. The rollout included alternate CD covers titled “Sweat & Vanilla Perfume,” “It’s Frightening,” “It’s Rapturous,” and “It’s Beautiful,” as well as a website countdown that briefly crashed her online store when it went live.
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Production is led by longtime collaborators Max Martin and Shellback, marking a return to the team behind earlier hits such as Shake It Off and Blank Space. Swift confirmed there will be no deluxe editions or extra tracks, describing the album as “the record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time.”
Marketing for the announcement saw the Empire State Building illuminated in orange, while brands including M&M’s, Burger King and Dunkin’ shared themed tributes on social media.