Taylor Swift Announces Four-Song Showgirl Encore

Taylor Swift released *The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore*, adding four songs—“Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon”—to her 2025 album. She said she wrote the tracks with producers Max Martin and Shellback during a celebratory trip to Sweden. “Cleveland!” references her relationship with Travis Kelce, including his Ohio hometown, their wedding and criticism of the couple. A “Patient Zero” music video starring Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson and directed by Swift is scheduled to premiere at the MTV Video Music Awards, where Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors. The VMAs are also set to feature Madonna’s first performance at the show in 23 years and a Kacey Musgraves-led tribute to Dolly Parton. Reception to the new material is mixed, with coverage noting interest in its personal references and one review criticizing the songwriting and the decision to append the songs to the album.