For the first seven months of 2025, it seemed entirely possible this would be a year of recuperation and regrouping for Taylor Swift. After all, she’d just spend two years on the biggest tour in pop history, while capping a first half of the decade that included four totally new albums and another four re-recordings of her early LPs — a project that came to an end (at least temporarily) this year with her long-sought acquisition of her masters. A break seemed much-deserved, and possibly necessary. But as of last week, break’s over: Taylor Swift took to her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast to announce 12th album The Life of a Showgirl, arriving Oct. 3.
On this week’s Pop Star Preview episode of the Greatest Pop Stars podcast, host Andrew Unterberger is joined by Billboard executive editor of music (and longtime Swift correspondent) Jason Lipshutz to discuss the earliest transmissions from Swift’s Showgirl era. We break down what we already know about the album — including the tracklist, the producers, and the general sound — and predict where she might be going from here, as she keeps the chains moving on what increasingly appears to be one decade-long touchdown drive.
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Along the way, we of course try to answer all the questions that have been lingering for us and the rest of the Swifties for the past week-plus: Why was keeping the Showgirl tracklist to 12 tracks — with no bonus material incoming — such a point of emphasis for Taylor? Does a return to the sound and the collaborators of 1989 also portend a return to the blockbuster status of 1989? How wild it is that Swift’s story is now so intertwined with that of Chiefs (and former Eagles) head coach Andy Reid? Is this all leading up to a headlining gig at Super Bowl LX (as Katie and Keith just spent most of this week’s Pop Shop episode wondering themselves)? And most importantly: Can Taylor Swift still be the No. 1 Greatest Pop Star of 2025?
Check it out above — and subscribe to the Greatest Pop Stars podcast on Apple Music or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts) for weekly discussions every Thursday about all things related to pop stardom!
And as we say in every one of these GPS podcast posts — if you have the time and money to spare, please consider donating to any of these causes in the fight for trans rights:
Gender-Affirming Care Fundraising on GoFundMe
Also, please consider giving your local congresspeople a call in support of trans rights, with contact information you can find on 5Calls.org.
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