Taylor Swift’s recent nearly two-hour appearance on the “New Heights” podcast with boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce offered fans an unprecedented candid look into her life, drawing over a million viewers to its YouTube stream. Beyond insights into her music and the historic Eras Tour, several less anticipated revelations emerged.
Here are 5 key things learned from her conversation:
- “The Life of a Showgirl” is a Long-Awaited Dream Album: Swift revealed that her upcoming 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set for release on October 3 and featuring 12 tracks (including a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter), is a project she’s “been wanting to make for a very long time.” She reunited with legendary producers Max Martin and Shellback, aiming for “melodies that were so infectious that you’re almost angry at it” and “crisp and focused and completely intentional” lyrics. The album’s theme is “everything that was going on behind the curtain,” symbolizing “the life beyond the show,” with orange iconography representing the “exuberant and electric and vibrant” energy of her life.
Travis Kelce’s “Green Flag” and Way with Words: Swift jokingly credited the podcast for “getting her a boyfriend,” but Travis attributed their relationship to the Eras Tour, confessing how captivated he was by her performance. He then admitted he was “butthurt” when he couldn’t give her a friendship bracelet, leading to Jason’s playful jab about Travis learning the word “engulfed” after meeting Taylor. Swift noted Travis’s consistent “green flag” was his ability to maintain long-standing friendships, highlighting his loyalty and the humorous nature of his friend group.
Her Parents and Brother Were Key to Reclaiming Her Masters: Swift shared an emotional account of finally owning her entire music catalog. She revealed that her mother and brother played a major role, sitting down with Shamrock Capital to convey what acquiring her masters meant to her. Upon receiving the news a few months after the Super Bowl, Swift was overcome with emotion, describing how she “dramatically hit the floor for real” and “started like bawling my eyes out,” a reaction Travis also experienced. This marked the culmination of years of protesting the sale of her first six albums’ master recordings.
Taylor Swift is Deeply Into Sourdough Baking: Despite her packed schedule, Swift maintains hobbies like painting, cooking, and a “different baking obsession every six months.” Currently, she’s “very deep in a sourdough obsession that has taken over [her] life.” She’s constantly baking bread, texting friends for feedback, exploring sourdough blogs, and even perfecting a “funfetti sourdough” for Jason Kelce’s children. Travis confirmed her dedication, revealing he’s requested two loaves at training camp.
Eras Tour Recovery is as Intense as an NFL Game: Swift opened up about the immense physical toll of her three-hour Eras Tour performances. She described it as “a lot of physical therapy and it was a lot of being in a state of perpetual discomfort,” comparing it to Travis’s experience during football season, though noting she’s not getting hit by 300-pounders, “but the heels…” Travis was struck by the similarities to his own post-game recovery rituals, remarking that Swift’s “recovery station” at her hotel meant “she does more than I do,” and they related on “how much torture we put our bodies through.”
