Taylor Swift has revealed the unique and emotional way she says goodbye to her old music before releasing a new album.
The global pop icon shared that she always revisits her previous album in full to bring closure to that chapter of her creative journey.
Before releasing her latest record, The Life of a Showgirl, Swift listened to her entire 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department, as part of this heartfelt ritual. Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the Blank Space hitmaker said the tradition helps her appreciate where she’s been before stepping into a new artistic era.
Swift explained that she was in a similar emotional space while writing The Life of a Showgirl as she had been during The Tortured Poets Department, which she composed while feeling exhausted and reflective during her record-breaking Eras Tour. However, her new album offers a lighter, more colorful tone — trading the black-and-white aesthetic of her last release for dazzling costumes, feathers, and sparkle.
“I listened to Tortured Poets Department to say goodbye to it. I do it every time,” Swift said, describing how the ritual helps her close one musical chapter and embrace another.
This thoughtful practice not only allows Swift to honor her past work but also highlights her deep emotional connection to her music — a trait that continues to inspire millions of her fans worldwide.