Taylor Swift is so back.
Just after midnight on Aug. 12, the pop star announced her next studio album is on its way (her 12th, for those keeping count). Introducing “The Life of a Showgirl.”
She released the news just after midnight Tuesday morning when a clip of her upcoming “New Heights” episode was posted to her social accounts. “New Heights” confirmed hours before the album announce that she would be a guest on this week’s podcast.
“I wanted to show you something,” she says to “New Heights” co-host Jason Kelce while sitting alongside boyfriend and additional “New Heights” co-host Travis Kelce.
“What do we got?” Jason Kelce says as she pulls up a mint green briefcase.
“This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,'” Swift says as the Kelce brothers erupt in celebration.
She did not give a release date, and it appears the album art will remain a mystery until the “New Heights” podcast airs.
The news comes eight months after Swift wrapped up her iconic “Eras Tour” in Vancouver, roughly two-and-a-half months since she purchased the rights to the master recordings of her first six albums and just hours after confirming the podcast guest-hosting spot.
The podcast released a photo on social media hinting that a guest was joining Wednesday’s episode, and the silhouette looked an awful lot like one of the best-selling artists of all time — sending fans into a frenzy. Hours later, the podcast released a clip of the couple and confirmed she would be on Wednesday’s show.
And that wasn’t the only suspenseful moment Swift gave fans Monday. Hours before “The Life of a Showgirl’s” announcement, a countdown appeared on her website with the words “EXPIRES AUGUST 12 AT 12:12 A.M.”
(We thank you, Taylor, for a few hours of advanced notice.)
And as the sun set in New York City, the Empire State Building lit up in orange. On X, the building’s account said, “See you next era.”
Fans have long theorized that orange was going to be the color theme for her next album. At the conclusion of each “Eras Tour” concert, as Swift sang “Karma” amid dancers all wearing fringe coats, an orange door would slowly descend on the stage screen.
