NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift’s busy fall just got even more eventful. Alongside preparing for the October release of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, the pop superstar made her debut Wednesday on New Heights, the hit podcast hosted by her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
The episode — over two hours on streaming platforms and 1 hour 45 minutes on YouTube — offered fans a rare, in-depth look at Swift’s latest project and personal life.
A Mint-Green Reveal
Swift’s appearance doubled as part of her album rollout. In a preview clip released Tuesday, she teased the Kelce brothers with a mint-green briefcase marked with her initials. Inside was a vinyl copy of The Life of a Showgirl, set for release on October 3.
She revealed that the album was written and recorded in Europe during breaks from her Eras Tour. The sessions took place entirely in Sweden with producers Max Martin and Shellback, whom she praised as “geniuses” and called Martin her mentor.
Why Orange?
The album’s signature orange color, Swift explained, reflects her inner life during the tour. “Bangers,” is how she describes the 12-track record, emphasizing there will be no surprise second release this time. Travis Kelce called it “a 180 from The Tortured Poets Department,” to which Swift replied, “Life is more upbeat.”
Thematically, the songs explore “everything that was going on behind the curtain,” with a goal of pairing infectious melodies and vivid storytelling. The album cover, she shared, is inspired by “the end of my day” — featuring her in a bathtub.
Personal Updates and Relationship Talk
Swift used the podcast to open up about her family. Her mother recently had knee surgery, and her father underwent quintuple bypass surgery after doctors found five blockages in his heart. “This was the summer of my parental upgrades,” she joked.
She also spent significant time in Florida with Travis Kelce, noting that their jobs are alike — both entertaining stadium-sized crowds for three hours at a time. On dealing with public speculation about their relationship, she admitted, “We don’t, really. My name can be in the headline, and it’s none of my business.”
Swift credited New Heights with sparking their romance, recalling how they first connected over a friendship bracelet exchange. “If this guy isn’t crazy,” she joked, “he’s the kind of guy I’ve been writing songs about.”
Tour Easter Eggs and Hobbies
Discussing her Eras Tour, Swift pointed to the orange door she exited on the final date — a hint that she was moving into her Showgirl era. Known for planting Easter eggs, she recalled hiding references to her Midnights album in her 2022 NYU graduation speech, which fans later decoded.
Her hobbies remain simple. She’s still baking, currently obsessed with sourdough bread in flavors like blueberry lemon and cinnamon swirl. Playfully, she dropped puns such as, “Are you bread-y for it?” and “It’s a loaf story, baby just say yeast.”
Taking Control of Her Music
Swift confirmed she has regained ownership of her full music catalog, buying it from Shamrock Capital, though she did not disclose the cost. Of her re-recordings, she holds a special place for Red (Taylor’s Version) — especially its 10-minute version of “All Too Well.”
How to Watch and Listen
The New Heights episode premiered at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday and is available on YouTube and major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Audible.
The audio version runs about 20 minutes longer than the video, featuring a rapid-fire Q&A covering topics from cats and Pop-Tarts to Bad Bunny’s rumored role in Happy Gilmore 2.
Leading Up to the Episode
The podcast teased Swift’s appearance in clips released earlier this week. In one, she joked to the Kelce brothers, “I think we all know that if there’s one thing male sports fans want to see in their spaces, it’s more of me.”
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid publicly supported the couple, saying, “They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing. The older you get, you want these guys to have somebody they can settle down with.”
