Taylor Swift’s Travis & Jason Kelce Interview: Every Key Moment/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Taylor Swift joined Travis and Jason Kelce on their “New Heights” podcast, marking her first appearance on the show. During the two-hour episode, she revealed major details about her upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl, shared personal updates, and discussed her relationship with Travis Kelce. The appearance offered fans a rare, candid glimpse into Swift’s private and professional life.
Taylor Swift Podcast Highlights Quick Looks
- Swift confirmed new album The Life of a Showgirl, out Oct. 3
- Album was recorded in Sweden with Max Martin and Shellback
- Swift described the 12-track project as upbeat and full of “bangers”
- Album reflects behind-the-scenes life on her Eras Tour
- Personal updates included her dad’s heart surgery and mom’s knee replacement
- Swift and Kelce compared their stadium careers as entertainers
- Swift addressed public chatter, saying she ignores headlines
- She credited “New Heights” for helping spark their relationship
- Shared Easter eggs and teased end of the Eras era
- Reacquired her music catalog from private equity firm in May
- Discussed baking hobbies and favorite Taylor’s Version album
- Full audio includes 20 extra minutes and bonus rapid-fire Q&A
Deep Look: Taylor Swift Talks New Album, Life, and Love on the Kelces’ ‘New Heights’ Podcast
NEW YORK — Taylor Swift made her long-anticipated debut on the Kelce brothers’ New Heights podcast Wednesday, using the two-hour conversation to announce her new album, reflect on personal developments, and candidly discuss her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The episode, which also featured Jason Kelce, former NFL center for the Philadelphia Eagles, marked a new kind of media appearance for Swift — blending sports culture with pop superstardom. Though the podcast is typically football-centric, Swift’s appearance added a pop culture twist and drew global attention.
New Album: The Life of a Showgirl
In one of the biggest revelations, Swift officially unveiled her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, due for release on October 3. She introduced the album on air by pulling a mint-green briefcase from beneath the table, revealing a vinyl edition to the Kelce brothers.
Swift said the album was written and recorded during her Eras Tour, with sessions taking place in Europe — mostly in Sweden — between tour dates. Producers Max Martin and Shellback, frequent collaborators, helped her complete the project.
The album, featuring 12 tracks, is not a double release like The Tortured Poets Department. Swift described the new record as full of “bangers,” reflecting her desire to make something more upbeat after her darker, poetic previous release. “It’s a 180 from Tortured Poets,” Travis Kelce observed. Swift agreed, saying, “Life is more upbeat now.”
The album’s title and concept reflect what was happening behind the scenes during the tour. Swift described it as capturing “everything that was going on behind the curtain.”
The cover art, she revealed, is themed after the end of her day — featuring her in a bathtub. Orange, the dominant color of the album’s aesthetic, reflects the emotional energy she felt during the tour period.
Personal Life and Family Health
Swift also used the podcast to share deeply personal news. Her mother recently underwent knee replacement surgery, while her father had quintuple bypass surgery over the summer after doctors discovered five blockages in his heart. “This was the summer of my parental upgrades,” she said.
Swift and Kelce Talk Public Life
Swift said she generally ignores it: “My name can be in the headline, and it’s none of my business.”
She praised the podcast as her “favorite,” and credited it for bringing them together. Their first connection, she recalled, started with the exchange of friendship bracelets — a nod to a Swiftian fan tradition.
“If this guy isn’t crazy,” she joked, “he’s the type I’ve been writing songs about.”
Jason Kelce also joined in, asking about how their very public relationship affects their lives. The trio shared a light-hearted tone, with Swift emphasizing the joy and simplicity they’ve found together.
Eras Tour and Easter Eggs
Swift confirmed that she ended her final Eras Tour show by exiting through an orange door — a hidden message hinting at her transition from that musical phase to the Showgirl era. The move was one of many “Easter eggs,” Swift is known for planting throughout her work.
Her favorite Easter egg moment? When she embedded clues about her Midnights album into her NYU commencement speech in 2022, before the project had even been announced. Fans, she said, correctly suspected the entire speech was coded.
Bread, Cats, and Taylor’s Versions
Switching gears, Swift revealed that baking remains one of her favorite pastimes. She’s particularly fond of making sourdough bread, with variations including blueberry lemon, cinnamon swirl, and Funfetti. The puns were plentiful — “Are you bread-y for it?” and “Loafing him was bread” among them.
On the subject of her re-recorded albums, Swift said she treasures each one but admitted Red (Taylor’s Version) holds a special place, primarily because of the 10-minute vault track version of “All Too Well.”
In May, Swift made headlines for regaining ownership of her entire Big Machine catalog after purchasing it back from Shamrock Capital. While she didn’t reveal the purchase price, she emphasized how meaningful it was to finally own the full rights to her past work.
How to Watch or Listen
Swift’s New Heights episode premiered on YouTube and is available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and Wondery. The audio-only version runs about 20 minutes longer than the YouTube edition and includes a lightning round with fun, off-topic discussions — from Bad Bunny’s rumored role in Happy Gilmore 2 to Swift hiding in a cleaning cart during her tour.
Podcast Promotion and NFL Reactions
The lead-up to the episode’s release was tightly managed, with brief teaser clips shared on social media. In one, Swift joked about appearing on a show popular with male sports fans: “If there’s one thing they want more of in their spaces, it’s more of me.”
“Both of them like each other, and what a plus that is,” he said. “They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing.”
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