On August 13, 2025, Taylor Swift revealed details about her upcoming 12-track album, The Life of a Showgirl, during an episode of her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, New Heights. Scheduled for release on October 3, the album drew early acclaim from Kelce, who described it as a refreshing and lively project.
Travis Kelce, a Kansas City Chiefs star, expressed particular enthusiasm about the tenth track, titled “Cancelled,” calling it a banger while discussing the album with his brother and co-host, Jason Kelce. This brief endorsement sparked interest and speculation among fans online.
Fans Interpret “Cancelled” as a Possible Nod to Past Feuds
Netizens on X (formerly Twitter) quickly reacted to Kelce’s praise of “Cancelled.” Some fans suspect the song contains subtle references to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, acknowledging the historical tensions Taylor Swift had with the duo during the mid-2010s. One fan succinctly put it as “OH KANYE AND KIM SHADE.”
Meanwhile, many fans expressed trust in Travis Kelce’s taste, noting that his favorite Taylor Swift tracks include fan-favorites like “Blank Space” and “Cruel Summer.” Discussion also emerged around which era of Swift’s discography the new song “Cancelled” might stylistically fit into, with comparisons to the themes and sounds of her albums Midnights, Reputation, and 1989.
Kelce Describes Album as Energetic and Upbeat, Marking a New Direction
During the podcast, Travis Kelce shared that The Life of a Showgirl adopts a more upbeat tone compared to Swift’s earlier work, particularly contrasting it with her previous album, The Tortured Poets Department. He said,
“I’ve been fortunate enough to hear every single song on here, so I know they’re all 12 bangers. It’s a lot more upbeat and it’s a lot more like, fun pop excitement. I think it’s a complete 180 from a lot of the songs on Tortured Poets for sure,”
This upbeat shift was confirmed by Swift herself, who explained that the album was written and recorded while she was on The Eras Tour, describing that period as “exuberant and electric and vibrant.” She called the songs “bangers” born from what she termed
“the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life.”
Collaborations and Unique Features Enhance the Album’s Appeal
The Life of a Showgirl includes a cover of George Michael’s hit “Father Figure,” and features singer Sabrina Carpenter, who toured as an opener on The Eras Tour, contributing to the title track. Unlike Swift’s prior double album, The Tortured Poets Department, this release is a focused standalone project consisting of twelve tracks.
“There are no other songs coming … with Tortured Poets Department, I was like, ‘Here is a data dump of everything I have thought, felt, experienced in two or three years. Here’s 31 songs.’ This is 12. There’s not a 13th, there’s not other ones coming. This is the record I’ve been wanting to make for a very long time,”
Swift elaborated further on her approach to the album’s creation,
“I tend to love to write lots and lots of music, so it’s a temptation to release lots of music. But I wanted to do an album that was so focused on quality and the theme and everything fitting together like a perfect puzzle that these 12 songs for my 12th album – I feel we achieved that.”
Production and Physical Releases Highlight Swift’s Artistic Vision
The album is produced by the acclaimed Swedish duo Max Martin and Shellback, whom Swift described as “geniuses.” This collaboration marks a reunion of the trio, who previously worked together on multiple highly successful albums including Reputation, 1989, and Red.
The Life of a Showgirl is currently available for pre-order through Taylor Swift’s official channels. Alongside traditional formats such as vinyl, cassette, and CD, four limited edition deluxe CD versions will be offered, each accompanied by exclusive collectibles like photo cards, jewelry boxes, and various accessories including keychains, bracelets, or chains.
Anticipation Builds Around the Album’s Launch and Reception
With Travis Kelce openly endorsing the album as a collection of “12 bangers” and fans eagerly dissecting every detail from the tracklist to possible lyrical allusions, The Life of a Showgirl is shaping up to be a significant release in Taylor Swift’s discography. The album’s bright, energetic sound, combined with its focused curation, marks a fresh chapter for Swift’s music after the expansive double album of the previous year.
As the October 3 release date approaches, the collaboration between Swift and Kelce continues to draw public attention, blending the worlds of pop music and professional sports in a unique way that underscores both artists’ broad influence.