Taylor Swift sings about her romance with NFL star Travis Kelce on her highly anticipated 12th studio album The Life Of A Showgirl.
The album, expected to top charts around the world, dropped at 5am in the UK, with many Swifties likely setting early alarms to be among the first to hear it.
The record features 12 tracks including Opalite, which fans have speculated could be about her fiance Kelce, whose birth stone is opal.
It sees the 35-year-old sing that she âhad a bad habit of missing lovers pastâ before singing the songâs cheery ânow the sky is Opaliteâ chorus, before adding âoh my god, never made no-one like you beforeâ to a Fleetwood Mac-style soft rock backing.
The Life Of A Showgirl is Swiftâs first record since she announced her engagement to NFL star Kelce, and also the first since she revealed in May that she had regained control over her back catalogue.
Eldest Daughter, the fifth song on the track list, which is always the most significant song on Swiftâs albums, sees the star sing: âIâm not a bad bitch, and this isnât savage, but Iâm never gonna let you downâ to a slow piano track, before confessing âwhen I said I donât believe in marriage that was a lieâ.
The Fate Of Ophelia, which opens the album and is expected to be its first single, also has Swift singing about a character called Ophelia being âthe eldest daughter of a noble manâ.
Actually Romantic sees the star take a swipe at an unnamed character, which fans have speculated could be a fellow musical artist, with the lyrics: âI heard you call me âBoring Barbieâ when the cokeâs got you brave.â
Ruin The Friendship sees Swift sing about prom and school days to a smooth bassline, with the chorus âit was not an invitation, shouldâve kissed you anywayâ.
The stomping title track, which features pop singer Sabrina Carpenter, sees the pair trade vocals before singing its âyou donât know the life of a showgirlâ chorus together.
Elizabeth Taylor, most likely named after the Cleopatra actress, follows in a long history of her songs referencing other famous people.
The electronic track sees Swift sing âall the right guys promised theyâd stayâ before later adding: âHollywood hates me, only as hot as your last hit babyâ.
Her debut album featured track Tim McGraw, about the famous country singer, while her most recent album The Tortured Poets Department featured Clara Bow, named after the silent film actress who rose to fame in the 1920s.
She has also penned tracks about socialite Rebekah Harkness (The Last Great American Dynasty), Ethel Kennedy (Starlight), as well as numerous romantic partners, including John Mayer, Harry Styles, Joe Jonas, Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor Kennedy.
In a post on Instagram, the pop superstar said she was âso proudâ of the new record which she described as a âself portraitâ.
Swift said: âI canât tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right.
âA forever thank you goes out to my mentors and friends Max and Shellback for helping me paint this self portrait.
âIf you thought the big show was wild, perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtainâŚâ
Swift previously said she recorded it while in Europe on the Eras Tour, reuniting with producers Max Martin and Shellback.
The singer last worked with the Swedish duo in 2017 on her album Reputation but has since favoured collaborations with Jack Antonoff and The Nationalâs Aaron Dessner.
Swift will appear on the Capital Breakfast show shortly after the album is released, joining the programme with hosts Jordan North and Sian Welby at 8am.
She will also appear on The Graham Norton Show on Friday evening, alongside Oscar-winning actor Cillian Murphy, Tron: Ares actors Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith, and Irish star Domhnall Gleeson.
It follows 2024âs The Tortured Poets Department, which was released in the middle of her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Friday night will also see the launch of The Official Release Party Of A Showgirl in cinemas, which features the world premiere of the music video for the single The Fate Of Ophelia, as well as behind-the-scenes footage, lyric videos from the album and âcut-by-cut explanationsâ of what inspired the music.
The 89-minute film will be screened in cinemas around the country, with fans flocking to multiplexes to celebrate the new music together.
Many screenings are already sold out, including at the landmark Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, where showings at 8.15pm and 8.45pm are already at capacity.
Swift will follow up her UK appearances with a visit to Jimmy Fallonâs The Tonight Show in the US on October 6.
She will also appear on Late Night With Seth Meyers on October 8, serving as the sole guest in an episode billed as the âTAY/koverâ.
Swift announced her new album on the New Heights podcast, hosted by Kansas City Chiefs tight end Kelce and his brother Jason, who formerly played for the Philadelphia Eagles.
