Taylor Swift is giving us early peeks into her upcoming album, The Life of a Showgirl. The 35-year-old pop superstar has been dropping clues and lyrical snippets for her twelfth album. Fans are buzzing as the album’s release date, Friday, October 3rd, draws closer.
Not long after announcing her twelfth album, Swift kicked off the mystery with a Spotify playlist. It’s called "And baby, that’s show business for you." This playlist features songs she worked on with Max Martin and Shellback. The same phrase popped up during a Spotify event in New York. This made fans wonder if it’s a lyric from one of the new tracks.
Other fans turned into detectives. They noticed Apple Music randomly capitalized letters in lyrics from her 2017 album, Reputation. When pieced together, these letters spelled out: "They don’t make loyalty like they used to." Swifties are convinced this is another sneak peek at the new album’s words.
Swift didn’t write this album alone. She co-wrote every single song on Showgirl with Martin and Shellback last year. Swift shared details about the album’s creation on her fiancé Travis Kelce’s "New Heights" podcast in an August 2025 episode. She explained it was a project she tackled while on The Eras Tour in Europe. "I would do three shows in a row, then I’d have three days off," Swift said. "I’d fly to Sweden and then come back to the tour. I was already physically exhausted at that point in the tour, but mentally, I was so stimulated and excited to be creating."
She added, "It meant so much to me to have this creative experience. Max Martin, Shellback, and I knew we had to bring our best ideas ever. I also know the pressure I’m putting on this record by saying that. But I don’t care because I love it and I’m so proud." Swift gushed about the album’s origins. She said The Life of a Showgirl came from "the most infectiously joyous, wild, and dramatic place" in her life.
This isn’t the first time Swift has teamed up with Martin and Shellback. They also worked together on her albums Red, 1989, and Reputation before Showgirl. A special mention goes to the late George Michael. Swift credited him on a track called "Father Figure." Michael, who passed away in 2016, also had a 1987 hit song named "Father Figure." According to TMZ in late September 2025, Michael’s ex-partner, Kenny Goss, confirmed the news. He shared that Swift included an "interpolation" of Michael’s 1987 single on her album. Goss felt sure that Michael would have given his blessing to the song’s inclusion.
“It often doesn’t feel that glamorous to be me”
This was the first lyric unveiled. Fans spotted it at a Spotify event in New York. The phrase appeared written in lipstick on a mirror and across a stage marquee. Later, billboards in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas displayed the same words. Clever Swifties later found that iTunes lists this exact lyric under the Showgirl track titled "Elizabeth Taylor."
“Everyone cares until they stop caring”
Another lyric appeared on a billboard in São Paulo, Brazil. This new phrase then replaced the "not so glamorous" lyric at the New York exhibit. It’s all part of the fun in hunting for these album secrets.
“Do you want to ice skate inside my veins?”
An advertisement in London gave a sneak peek of this chilling lyric. Fans also found it scrawled on a napkin at the Spotify pop-up. It’s certainly a dramatic line!
“My infamy loves company”
This phrase first showed up at the New York pop-up event. Soon after, a billboard in Mexico City displayed the very same lyric. Seems like this line is traveling the globe!
“Thanks for the nice bouquet”
Fans in Toronto spotted this particular phrase on a billboard on Thursday, October 2nd. The teasers truly are everywhere.
With all these hints and stories, The Life of a Showgirl is set to make a big splash. Mark your calendars for its release on Friday, October 3rd.