Taylor swift got teary during a sit-down with boyfriend and Kansas City Chief Travis Kelce and his brother, retired Philadelphia Eagle Jason Kelce, as she discussed getting the master recordings for her music earlier this year.
The emotional moment came on the brothers' podcast, "New Heights" Wednesday night, during which the couple discussed the start of their relationship and swift also divulged new details about her upcoming album — her 12th.
The podcast started the same moment an announcement appeared on swift's website to reveal the cover for "The Life of a showgirl," along with four deluxe versions of the album.
The YouTube premier of "New Heights," which includes a video component to the podcast, hit a snag with about 20 minutes left to go of the viewing.
"shoutout all the 92%ers and swifties for actually helping us break the internet," the podcast said on social media after admitting it hit a glitch and would be back soon.
The podcast conversation was not limited to music, however, the couple (and his brother) covered a range of topics, everything from swift's newfound love of football, an obsession for baking sourdough loaves, watching otter videos, her parents' health and the start of the superstars' relationship.
The start of a new era
Like she so often does, swift started dropping hints about the new album long before this week. It started during the Eras Tour.
At every show, she exited the stage down an elevator shaft, but at the last show, she walked up stage instead and exited through an orange door.
"I kind of wanted to give a little subliminal hint to the fans that I may be leaving the Eras Tour era, but I was also entering a new era," swift said. The imagery for this new era has all been orange, the same color as the door.
swift then pulled out a vinyl copy of "The Life of a showgirl," which she said she worked on while on tour in Europe, writing and recording between tour dates and "literally living the life of a showgirl," Travis Kelce said.
Her 12th album will feature 12 tracks — the last of which features pop superstar and "Espresso" singer sabrina Carpenter — and will be released Oct. 3.
"This album was about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during this tour, which was so super and electric and vibrant," swift said.
she noted that it's a departure from her last album, which she said excelled lyrically, but this one matches how her life felt at the time of writing.
"I'm so proud of it, and it just comes from, like, the most infectiously joyful, wild, dramatic place I was in in my life. And so, that effervescence has come through on this record, and like, as you said, bangers," swift said.
But she promised that these 12 songs are it — and that there won't be any surprise songs coming.
A 'wild, romantic gesture'
Travis Kelce's side of the story has been widely reported: He attended the Eras Tour in Kansas City with a friendship bracelet with his number on it. While he didn't get it into swift's hands that night, a proclamation of his interest after the fact on an episode of "New Heights" apparently alerted swift of his affection. The rest was history.
swift's point of view was divulged for the first time on the pod, describing what Travis Kelce did as a "wild, romantic gesture." she said she was making her first podcast appearance only because "New Heights" "got me a boyfriend" after Travis Kelce made it "his personal dating app."
While swift admits Travis Kelce's verve was a bit crazy, she said they got to know each other in a very natural way and that he often made her laugh.
"This is sort of what I've been writing songs about wanting to happen to me since I was a teenager," swift said of the wooing.
The couple also addressed the media attention their relationship has attracted, with Travis Kelce admitting that swift is the professional when brushing off the negative attention. swift went so far as to admit, "it's hard to hurt my feelings at this point."
"My name can be in the actual headline and it can still be none of my business," swift explained of blocking out the noise. "You should think of your energy as if it's expensive, as if it’s like a luxury item. Not everyone can afford it."
Tears when swift reclaimed master recordings
swift described the moment she and Travis Kelce found out she would get the opportunity to buy her master recordings from shamrock Capital, tears in her eyes as she remembered the moment just months ago.
she said she heard from her mom and "very dramatically hit the floor" and started crying. she tried to collect herself to tell her boyfriend in "a normal way," but instead broke down in sobs.
"I'm just so happy for you, because I've seen how you make music ... I know how much it burned you that you didn't have that, and you didn't have your creation," Travis Kelce said, adding that he too found the moment emotional.
On the Eras Tour
Jason Kelce made sure to give proper attention to swift's behemoth Eras Tour, which swift said she misses but admitted "it feels great" that it's over.
During the more than 100 shows, she said she and Travis Kelce traded physical therapy notes.
"I've never played for crowds that were more committed," swift said, noting how the fans made the music an "event," something she strives to do.
she said seeing the bonding between generations at the tour was "the most incredible feeling in the world," and one of her favorite parts of it.
"I can see all that, I have LAsIK," the pop singer quipped.
she called the moment Travis Kelce joined her on stage at the Eras Tour "so special," a moment Jason Kelce called his favorite.
"I was serious in terrifying fashion," Travis Kelce said of his commitment to the role.
swift's still hiding Easter eggs
swift wants to make something clear: she loves to hide Easter eggs, but they always lead back to music, never her personal life.
For example, she said she dropped a bunch of "lyrical Easter eggs" in the speech she gave upon receiving an honorary doctorate from NYU. When her next album, "Midnights," came out, she said her fans were quick to realize "the whole speech was an Easter egg."
