The word “showgirl” hasn’t been used much in today’s pop culture—until Taylor Swift revived it during her fiancé’s New Heights podcast on August 13th, when she announced her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.
But when you look back at her career, the Eras Tour was simply the most bejeweled chapter (so far) in what’s been a showgirl’s journey all along.
No modern-day artist mirrors the “showgirl arc” quite like Taylor—equal parts glitz, grit, heartbreak, and reinvention. Beyond the sequins and curtain calls lies the story of a woman whose rise, fall, and comeback have all unfolded on the world’s biggest stage.
We’re peeling back the curtain to explore the most iconic showgirl moments of Taylor’s career—and how they mirror the TS12 era she’s in today.
“The Fate of Ophelia”
“Keep it one hundred, on the land, the sea, the sky, pledge allegiance to your hands, your team, your vibes, don’t care where the hell you been cause now you’re mine“
Roll the Tape: The 2024 Superbowl.
A showgirl’s love life is one of her most scrutinized acts—and there’s something to be said about bringing that love and loyalty to the biggest stage of all, even amidst the noise and commentary from the crowd, both in the stands and online. That moment on the field—fresh off an intercontinental performance—was a vivid declaration. No matter where she’s been or what’s happened before, she showed the world where her allegiance lies.
“Elizabeth Taylor”
“Oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me—All the right guys promised they’d stay, under bright lights, they withered away.”
Roll the Tape: The Reputation Era
Taylor has often cited Elizabeth Taylor as one of her most adored muses, recently sharing, “She is always someone that I’ve looked up to as being this very glamorous, very beloved, but for some reason a polarizing figure, which I found myself in that place, too.”
That specificity and storytelling of duality—between admiration and antagonism—is what made the Reputation era such a pivotal chapter in Taylor’s legacy. She leaned fully into the character the media had written for her, yet did so unapologetically in love, and ultimately reclaimed the narrative through her songwriting.
“Opalite”
“This is just a temporary speed bump, but failure brings you freedom and I can bring you love.”
Roll the Tape: “I Can Do it With a Broken Heart,” Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium.
On June 23, 2024, the Eras stage reached a new level of iconic when a certain football player traded his helmet and cleats for a top hat and jazz shoes, joining Taylor for “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. Taylor has spoken about her affinity for gemstones, saying, “I really loved the idea that the sort of man-made gemstone jewel is also a metaphor for your own choosing—choosing your own path to happiness, making it yourself. It was man-made; it didn’t just happen to you.”
That’s what makes Taylor such a singular artist: she can take a song from an album like Tortured Poets Department—with a completely different tone—and, through her performance, show us in real time how she has healed, giving us a glimpse into her next era.
“Father Figure”
“Whose portrait’s on the mantel? Who covered up your scandals? Mistake my kindness for weakness and find your card cancelled—I was your father figure; you pulled the wrong trigger. This empire belongs to me.”
Roll the Tape: Taylor reclaiming her masters.
At 15, Taylor signed with Big Machine Records, founded by Scott Borchetta. Years later, Borchetta committed the ultimate betrayal—selling her masters to Scooter Braun for $300 million in 2019, igniting the Taylor’s Version revolution. She chose to face adversity with defiance by re-recording Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. Her resilience paid off when she announced the official purchase of her life’s master recordings on May 30th, 2025.
“Eldest Daughter”
“Everybody’s so punk on the internet, everyone’s unbothered ’til they’re not. Every joke’s just trolling and memes—sad as it seems, apathy is hot.”
Roll the Tape: “Innocent” in response to the 2009 VMA’s.
When Kanye West hijacked her acceptance speech after winning Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV VMA’s, Taylor learned in a very public and humiliating way that success comes with a band of hecklers rooting for your downfall. Taylor’s grace in response through “Innocent” from Speak Now—cemented her as a class-act showgirl.
“Ruin the Friendship”
“It was not an invitation but I flew home anyway with so much left to say— It was not convenient, no, but I whispered at the grave—should’ve kissed you anyway.”
Roll the Tape: 2010 BMI Country Awards
Written in tribute to her late friend Jeff Lang, this song captures the ache of grief that doesn’t pause for applause. The day after his funeral, she accepted Songwriter of the Year at the BMI Awards. For showgirls, there are no days off, the show must go on—even when your heart can’t.
“Actually Romantic”
“But you keep sending me funny valentines and I know you think it comes off vicious- But it’s precious, adorable like a toy chihuahua barking at me from a tiny purse- that’s how much it hurts. How many times has your boyfriend said “Why are we always talking ’bout her?”
Roll the Tape: “Look What You Made Me Do” music video premiere at the 2017 VMA’s.
If there’s one lesson we can take from Swift’s playbook, it’s how to turn fuel from your haters into ammunition for personal success. After a year-long hiatus and saying virtually nothing in the wake of her highly publicized feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, Taylor made her return with the start of the Reputation era. She premiered the video for “Look What You Made Me Do” on the very stage where that feud began, turning the moment into a masterclass in reclaiming narrative and flipping the script.
“Wi$h Li$t”
“I made wishes on all of the stars—please, God, bring me a best friend who I think is hot. I thought I had it right, once, twice, but I did not.”
Roll the Tape: The Lover Era.
When Lover dropped in 2019, we thought the purple-and-pink painted sky on the cover was just the beginning of Taylor’s happy ending, a story culminating in Daylight: “I once believed love would be burning red, but it’s golden.” Like many showgirls before her, though, love stories don’t always end as planned. Lover rewrote itself over time, ultimately manifesting in The Life of a Showgirl—Taylor’s true happy ending. It proves that the best love stories aren’t always pink cotton-candy clouds, but sometimes burning (orange), glittery, spritzy new chapters.
“Wood”
“Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck—New Heights of manhood, I ain’t gotta knock on wood.”
Roll the Tape: Taylor’s New Heights podcast appearance.
What is more showgirl-like behavior than taking locker room talk on a football podcast and turning it into the global announcement of your next album?
“CANCELLED!”
“Did you girlboss too close to the sun? Did they catch you having far too much fun? Come with me—when they see us, they’ll run. Something wicked this way comes.”
Roll the Tape: “Bad Blood” music video premiere, 2015 Billboard Music Awards.
Taylor’s “girl squad” era was peak pop-culture chatter—empowering to some, polarizing to others. When she debuted the music video for “Bad Blood” surrounded by models, she became both the heroine and the villain in her own narrative, attracting both applause and envy from the masses.
“Honey”
“Sweetie, it’s yours, kicking in doors, take it to the floor, give me more. Buy the paint in the color of your eyes, and graffiti my whole damn life, honey.”
Roll the Tape: The 2025 Grammy’s red carpet.
Taylor was truly dazzling at this year’s Grammy awards, draped in a red sequin mini dress and trademark red lip to match. Her most eye-catching accessory? A sparkling red “T” chain wrapped around her thigh- a wink to Travis Kelce. It’s a subtle nod to the lyrics of “Bejeweled,” once written about the neglect she experienced in her past relationship. Now, the message is clear — Taylor is still bejeweled, and she’s found her romantic real estate in the penthouse of Kelce’s heart.
“The Life of a Showgirl”
“I’m married to the hustle, and now I know the life of a showgirl, babe. And I’ll never know another, pain hidden by the lipstick and lace- sequins are forever And now I know the life of a showgirl, babe.”
Roll the Tape: Sabrina Carpenter joining Taylor on the Eras Tour.
In total, the Eras Tour spanned 149 shows across 50 cities and five continents—a feat only a true showgirl could pull off. The title track, “The Life of a Showgirl,” feels especially full circle with Sabrina Carpenter joining as a collaborator. Sabrina has shared that “White Horse” was the first song she ever learned to play on guitar—fast-forward to now, and she’s not only opened for Taylor but shared the stage with her during a mashup of her own songs (“Please Please Please” x “Espresso” x “Is It Over Now?”). A moment she once only dreamed about, now immortalized as part of the Eras Tour legacy.
From the creaky cabin floors of Folklore and Evermore, to the Chair of the Tortured Poets Department to Showgirl’s sparkling bravado, Taylor Swift has transcended the archetype. She’s not just performing the life of a showgirl—she’s rewriting what it means to live it.
Whether you’re making friendship bracelets or pleading for her demise in the comments- there is no denying that her icon status is going nowhere. She’ll keep shaking it off, because hey, that’s just show business baby.
