Taylor Swift is setting the record straight: marriage won’t end her music career.
Days after the release of her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” the singer addressed fan speculation that she might retire from recording after marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The couple announced their engagement in August, just weeks before Swift revealed the album’s release on Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast.
During an interview with BBC Radio 2 that aired Monday, host Scott Mills asked Swift if the new record might be her last, citing online chatter about her upcoming marriage and potential plans for a family. Swift appeared surprised by the question. “That’s a shockingly offensive thing to say,” she replied. “That’s not why people get married, so that they can quit their job.”
Swift acknowledged that her fans tend to “panic sometimes,” but she was quick to assure them that her creative drive remains strong. “I love the person that I am with because he loves what I do and he loves how much I am fulfilled by making art and making music,” she said, saying Kelce respects and supports her ambitions. “[He’s] so passionate about what he does that me being passionate about what I do — it connects us. There’s no point in time where he’s going to be like, ‘I’m really upset that you’re still making music.” Swift also drew parallels between their high-profile careers, saying they share a similar rhythm of performance, preparation and teamwork. “We both, as a living, as a job, as a passion, perform for three and a half hours in NFL stadiums,” she said. “For him, it’s a game For me, it’s a show.”
Her comments come as “The Life of a Showgirl” continues to break records worldwide, with its theatrical release party and accompanying music video for the single “The Fate of Ophelia” topping weekend box office charts. The short film, which Swift wrote and directed, gives fans a glamorous glimpse into what she calls “a day in the life of a showgirl.”
Even with the excitement surrounding her engagement, Swift has shown no signs of slowing down. She continues her media tour this week with appearances on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Fans have speculated that she could make a surprise appearance on “Saturday Night Live” later this month, when collaborator and friend Sabrina Carpenter hosts and performs.
Swift — who spent much of her Eras Tour recording “Showgirl” in Sweden — credited her close circle for keeping the project under wraps. “My friends don’t rat,” she said. “You can tell by the amount of stories about me that are out there that are absolutely not true.” If there was any doubt about her future in music, Swift made her position clear: she’s not retiring, not pausing and not planning to fade from the stage anytime soon.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, NBC News
