Taylor Swift Unveils 12th Album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ After Midnight Countdown

The Big Picture

Taylor Swift confirmed her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, moments after a website countdown struck 12:12 a.m. Tuesday, with no release date disclosed and vinyl shipments promised before Oct. 13, according to the Associated Press. A special “Portofino orange glitter” vinyl and a cassette are listed for preorder on her official store, with the artwork blurred and “to be revealed later” (TaylorSwift.com Store).

What’s New

The reveal capped weeks of speculation: Taylor Nation posted a 12-image, orange-themed slideshow, and the New Heights podcast teased a “very special guest.” Early Tuesday, the show confirmed Swift’s appearance and released a teaser showing her pulling the album from a briefcase—while the cover art remained blurred. Preorders opened immediately, with shipment timing noted and limited editions highlighted.

What They’re Saying

Context

This new era follows The Tortured Poets Department (2024) and the record-setting Eras Tour, which Pollstar estimates grossed about $2.2 billion worldwide, the highest total for any tour. It is also Swift’s first release since May 2025, when she announced she had purchased her catalog from Shamrock Capital, regaining control of her early masters (price not disclosed), as reported by the Washington Post.

What’s Next

The confirmed New Heights appearance is slated for Wednesday, with further album details expected there. Until official updates land, the confirmed facts are the title, the orange visual motif, and the preorder formats and ship window.

The Bottom Line

Swift has launched a classic slow-burn rollout: confirm the era, prime the merch, blur the visuals, and let the clues—and her fanbase—build momentum.

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