After releasing four bonus tracks, Swift has made the next chapter of her career a mystery

Taylor Swift has always loved a story. It’s what has set her songwriting apart for 20 years now — and what she has used to maintain her almighty superstar status. Both in her work and in the presentation of it, Swift has woven strong narratives of heartbreak, success, redemption, torture, and glory where all of the pieces fall into place and it’s easy to root for her.

With her latest album, The Life of the Showgirl, Swift presented a sequined tale of triumph. Finally, finally, the girl who spent her whole life trying to put the feeling of love into words had changed the prophecy by getting engaged (and now married) to Travis Kelce. Professionally, Swift was at her peak, too. She’d just bought back her masters with the earnings from her historic Eras Tour, an all-encompassing career feat that inspired the project.

But there’s no debating that the musician’s 12th album was her most polarizing yet (yes, even more than the 2017 LP, Reputation). Some critics and fans alike didn’t appreciate the execution of the “showgirl” idea sonically or thematically. But hate it or love it, Showgirl was the perfect way for Swift to revel in her success — and set the stage for her next show-stopping move.

That’s why it’s so confusing that the expert storyteller decided the show wasn’t over when she released The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore with four bonus tracks. One of the strongest elements of the original album was that Swift delivered a tight 12, and only 12, songs. “There’s not a 13th, there’s not other ones coming,” she said last year. “Every single song is on this album for hundreds of reasons, you know, and you couldn’t take one out and it’d be the same album. You couldn’t add one. It’s just right.”

Now, there is suddenly more to the story with the addition of “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!” “Pink Clouding,” and “Babylon.” Unfortunately, as many fans have pointed out, none of the songs add to the narrative set forth in Showgirl.

Swift said she wrote the bonus tracks last year following the success of the album. “We just wanted to reflect and take in how grateful we were for the moment we were in,” she said, referring to the project’s collaborators, Max Martin and Shellback. That moment found Swift newly engaged, yet her lead single back, “Patient Zero,” looks back at a past relationship. “Pink Clouding” also reflects on a former flame, but without the regretful yearning that made “Ruin the Friendship” a standout. Meanwhile, “Cleveland!” takes the gushing over-the-heels joy from “Honey” and “Wood” and adds an almost spiteful twist. And then there is the new curtain-closer, “Babylon” where Swift hands out more pearls of wisdom over an acoustic cut that would fit better on Folklore or Evermore. In fact, all four songs sound like they were plucked from previous albums like Midnights or The Tortured Poets Department. With these four tracks, she has not only confused the story of Showgirl, she’s also muddled that of Taylor Swift™.

Swift is a known mastermind, who has planned her next career move years in advance, and she’s been celebrated for her expert marketing power moves. But where does the showgirl go from here? The Encore has unleashed more questions about Swift’s next chapter rather than offer a clear path forward.

On Sunday, Swift premiered the cinematic music video for “Patient Zero” at the 2026 MTV VMAs. It’s a chilling thriller, and one of her most impressive visuals to date. Was that the point of it all, to highlight her full-throttle pivot to film? We know that the musician has a directorial debut on the way with Searchlight Pictures. Maybe she finally found the time to finish it, and that’s why she worked on the Toy Story 5 soundtrack.

The Encore could also just be a way for Swift to get her 12th album back into the conversation, just in time for the first round of voting for the 2027 Grammys. One would expect the singer-songwriter to submit the project for all of the major categories, including the coveted Album of the Year and Song of the Year. It’s unclear whether Swift will submit both “The Fate of Ophelia,” which became Swift’s longest-running Number One song atop the Billboard Hot and her new shining single “I Knew It, I Knew You” for Song of the Year — the songwriting-focused Grammy she has yet to win.

Swift has spent the last six months riding on the high of “I Knew It, I Knew You.” The song dominated on country radio — and led the musician to drop a ton of Easter eggs hinting at her big return to the genre. She could honor her songwriting legacy with a country music return timed to the 20th anniversary of her debut in October. Now that would be a great story.

Taylor Swift accepts the Video of the Year Award for "The Fate of Ophelia" at 2026 MTV Video Music Awards.

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards ceremony has arrived. Tonight, the biggest names in music gathered at the VMAs to see who would take home the night’s top prizes.

Madonna led all nominees this year with 13, thanks largely in part to the short film she made for her celebrated new album, Confessions II. In addition to being up for the coveted Video of the Year, it’s also earned several nods in creative categories, including Best Direction, Cinematography, and Choreography. It also received a nomination for the resurrected Best Dance category, which was doled out regularly for decades beginning in 1989, but hasn’t been awarded since 2019.

Madonna and Sabrina Carpenter’s Confessions II song, “Bring Your Love,” scored nominations for Song of the Year and Best Collaboration, and Madonna is up for Artist of the Year, too.

Taylor Swift trailed closely behind, earning 11 nominations. She is also up for Artist of the Year. Swift’s video for her Life of a Showgirl hit, “The Fate of Ophelia,” is nominated for Video of the Year, Best Pop, and numerous creative prizes. The visual for Swift’s other big Showgirl hit, “Opalite,” also scored a lone nod for Best Direction. It was already a big night for Swift leading up to the VMAs, as she was named the inaugural recipient of the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors ahead of the show.

In the coveted Video of the Year category, the Confessions II short film and “The Fate of Ophelia” will compete against Ariana Grande’s “Hate That I Made You Love Me,” Bruno Mars’ “I Just Might,” Gener8ion and Yung Lean’s “Storm,” and Sabrina Carpenter’s “Tears.” Artist of the Year boasts Madonna and Swift competing against Grande, Mars, Carpenter, and Morgan Wallen.

Other highlights from this year’s VMAs are Nirvana will receive the Video Vanguard Award, and a bevy of newcomers are all up for Best New Artist, including Bella Kay, Cortis, Magnus Ferrell, Malcolm Todd, Myles Smith, Sienna Spiro, and Stella Lefty.

See the list of winners below (bolded), which will be updated throughout the night.

Video of the YearAriana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”Gener8ion — “STORM starring Yung Lean”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”Sabrina Carpenter — “Tears”Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Artist of the YearAriana GrandeBruno MarsMadonnaMorgan WallenSabrina CarpenterTaylor Swift Song of the YearBTS — “Swim”Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI — “Golden”Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”Olivia Dean — “Man I Need”PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”RAYE — “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” Best New ArtistBella KayCORTISMagnus FerrellMalcolm ToddMyles SmithSienna SpiroStella Lefty Best CollaborationClipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice — “Chains & Whips”French Montana x Max B — “Ever Since U Left Me”Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter — “Bring Your Love”PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”Shakira & Burna Boy — “Dai Dai”Teyana Taylor & Lucky Daye — “Hard Part” Best PopAriana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”Charli XCX — “SS26”LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”Olivia Rodrigo — “drop dead”Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Hip-HopCardi B ft. Kehlani — “Safe”Don Toliver — “E85”Drake — “Janice STFU”Megan Thee Stallion — “LOVER GIRL”Travis Scott — “DUMBO”Tyler, The Creator — “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE” Best R&BBruno Mars — “I Just Might”Chris Brown — “It Depends/Obvious”Dave & Tems — “Raindance”Justin Bieber — “YUKON”Kehlani — “Folded”Mariah the Scientist & Kali Uchis — “Is It a Crime” Best AlternativeGeese — “Taxes”mgk & Fred Durst — “FIX UR FACE”Noah Kahan — “The Great Divide”Olivia Rodrigo — “the cure”SOMBR — “Homewrecker”Tame Impala — “Dracula”twenty one pilots — “Drag Path” Best DanceBebe Rexha & Faithless — “New Religion”Harry Styles — “Aperture”Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNAWAY”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”Slayyyter — “DANCE …”Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl” Best LatinAnitta with Shakira — “Choka Choka”Bad Bunny — “NUEVAYoL”Fuerza Regida — “TU SANCHO”KAROL G — “Papasito”Rosalía ft. Yahritza y Su Esencia — “La Perla”Ryan Castro, Kapo & GANGSTA — “LA VILLA”Shakira & Burna Boy — “Dai Dai” Best K-PopBLACKPINK — “JUMP”BTS — “SWIM”CORTIS — “REDRED”KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”LE SSERAFIM (feat. j-hope of BTS) — “SPAGHETTI”LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi” Best Country Ella Langley — “Choosin’ Texas”Kacey Musgraves — “Dry Spell”Lainey Wilson — “Somewhere Over Laredo”Luke Combs — “Back in the Saddle”Shaboozey — “Cowgirl”Stella Lefty — “Boston” Tucker Wetmore — “Brunette” Best DirectionAriana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”GENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”Taylor Swift — “Opalite” Best Art DirectionCharli XCX — “SS26”Lady Gaga & Doechii — “RUNAWAY”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”SOMBR — “My Body Isn’t Ready”Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best CinematographyA$AP Rocky — “PUNK ROCKY”Ariana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”Shaboozey — “Cowgirl”Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best EditingAriana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”Bruno Mars — “I Just Might”LISA — “Dream feat. Kentaro Sakaguchi”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”Sabrina Carpenter — “House Tour”Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best ChoreographyGENER8ION — “STORM starring Yung Lean”Harry Styles — “Dance No More”KATSEYE — “PINKY UP”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”Tate McRae — “Nobody’s Girl”Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia” Best Visual EffectsAriana Grande — “hate that i made you love me”JISOO X ZAYN — “Eyes Closed”Madonna — “Confessions II — The Film”PinkPantheress — “Stateside + Zara Larsson”RAYE ft. Hans Zimmer — “Click Clack Symphony.”Taylor Swift — “The Fate of Ophelia”

Social Categories:Best Group:BLACKPINKBTSCORTISFLOFuerza RegidaGeeseKATSEYETwenty One PilotsBest Long Form Video:Charli xcx – “Music, Fashion, Film” – Atlantic RecordsElla Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia RecordsGENER8ION – “STORM” starring Yung Lean – Iconoclast MusicMadonna – “Confessions II – The Film” – Warner Records

Best Album:Drake – ICEMAN – OVO/Republic RecordsMadonna – Confessions II – Warner RecordsOlivia Dean – The Art of Loving – IslandOlivia Rodrigo – you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love – Geffen RecordsSabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend – IslandTaylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl – Republic Records

Song of the Summer:Ariana Grande – “Hate That I Made You Love Me” – Republic RecordsBruno Mars – “Risk It All” – Atlantic RecordsCharli xcx – “Camera” – Atlantic RecordsElla Langley – “Choosin’ Texas” – Columbia RecordsKATSEYE – “Hootie Frutti” – HYBE x Geffen RecordsLatto ft. Doja Cat – “Okayyy” – Steamcut / RCA RecordsMorgan Wallen – “Been By Now – Big Loud / Mercury RecordsOlivia Dean – “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” – IslandOlivia Rodrigo – “Stupid Song” – Geffen RecordsSabrina Carpenter – “House Tour” – IslandSlayyyter – “Brand New Chanel$” – RECORDS/Columbia Recordssombr – “Homewrecker” – SMB Music / Warner RecordsStella Lefty – “Boston” – Sandlot / Atlantic OutpostTame Impala & JENNIE – “Dracula” – Columbia RecordsTaylor Swift – “I Knew It, I Knew You” – Walt Disney Records / Republic Records

Drake and Karol G

Drake made a surprise appearance at Karol G‘s concert in Houston on Sunday night. The rapper joined the Colombian singer for a performance of his 2016 hit “One Dance.”

Karol G’s show at Reliant Stadium marked the latest stop on her Viajando Por El Mundo Tropitour, which kicked off in July. The global trek continues through 2027, with stops in North America, Europe, and South America. Her latest album, No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto, arrived earlier this year.

Drake previously popped by Karol G’s Toronto show in July, where he was shown on the venue’s Jumbotron. He later name-checked her on his Maid of Honour track “New Bestie.” The duo then released a joint single, “Ahí,” which appeared on No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto.

“Drake singing in Spanish has always been incredible to me,” Karol told Rolling Stone. “We started talking about making it a duet, like the verses responding to each other. And I was like, ‘I don’t know, but I’d love it if Drake sang it in Spanish.'”

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Drake recently unveiled his elusive project Fear of Missing Out, a self-described “not-so-short film.” The clip features Drake dancing through his sprawling mansion and driving his lime-green boat along the slick Toronto skyline; joining an intimate chat between his mother, Sandra “Icemom” Graham, and her best friends; and brandishing a pair of $150,000 Iron Man suits. The video also previewed songs with Don Toliver and Sexyy Red, and a reworked version of Ella Langley’s massive hit “Choosin’ Texas.”

Taylor Swift accepts the Video of the Year Award for “The Fate of Ophelia" at the 2026 MTV VMAs

Taylor Swift dedicated her award for Best Music Video at the 2026 Video Music Awards on Sunday to the late Dolly Parton, “the ultimate showgirl.” The winning video, “The Fate of Ophelia,” from Swift’s most recent album, The Life of a Showgirl, was written and directed by Swift herself.

“Thank you so much for giving this award to this video,” Swift said. “I’m so proud of it. To the fans, thank you for voting on it. I just, I loved making this video because I wanted it to seem like one continuous shot, so I learned a lot about hiding cuts in places, and I want to thank everybody who helped me on this video shoot.” She shouted out the video’s choreographer, Mandy Moore, its production designer, Ethan Tobman, its cinematographer, Rodrigo Prieto, and its editor, Chancler Haynes.“And lastly, but most importantly,” Swift added, “I want to thank and dedicate this award to one person, without whom this wouldn’t be happening, and that person is the ultimate showgirl, Dolly Parton. Every single song that she wrote, her storytelling was so vivid and so rich. Listening to her songs, it’s like watching the best music video you have ever seen in your life, every single time you hear what she has written. Man, she handled this thing with such grace and joy and love and gratitude for the fact that she got to do this.”“And everything that happened in her life or her career, she channeled back into love and gratitude and appreciation for her fans,” Swift continued. “I’m lucky I got to be one of them, and I will always be one of them. I love you all so very much, and I think we were all very lucky to share this planet with Dolly Parton for a time, and thank you for this amazing moment. I love you all.”On Friday, Swift dropped the extended version of Showgirl, featuring four tracks. The single is “Patient Zero,” with a video co-starring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell that she debuted at the VMAs.

Swift recently received a Country Music Association Awards nomination for Single of the Year for her 2026 release “I Knew It, I Knew You,” her contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. The nod marked her first CMA nomination in four years. “LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN’T YEE’D MY LAST HAW THANK YOU CMA!!!!” she wrote on Instagram.

The CFL is turning the 2026 Grey Cup into a major Canadian music showcase, with Sarah McLachlan, Blue Rodeo and James Barker Band joining country star Riley Green on the entertainment lineup.

The 113th Grey Cup takes place November 15 at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, where Green will headline the Grey Cup Halftime Show. The Alabama-born country singer, who has scored six No. 1 hits on Canadian country radio, including “There Was This Girl” and “Worst Way,” will bring his Southern country sound to Alberta.

Before the game, Canadian music icon Sarah McLachlan will perform “O Canada,” while Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor will deliver a special performance.

James Barker Band will close out the pre-game entertainment with the SiriusXM Grey Cup Kickoff Show. The Ontario country group has had a busy year that included another JUNO Award, its fourth consecutive CCMA Group or Duo of the Year win and a new album, One of Us.

The Grey Cup Festival runs November 11 to 15 and includes a Kick-Off Party featuring The Trews, a Thursday night concert with Alan Doyle featuring The Strumbellas, and a Saturday night country concert whose headliner remains secret.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 08: Musician Tinashe performs a DJ set during day two of the Capitol Hill Block Party on August 08, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images)

Welcome to our weekly rundown of the best new music — featuring big singles, key tracks from our favorite albums, and more. This week, Tinashe navigates the highs and lows of being a pop star, Blondshell basks in the beauty of her life, and Taylor Swift is back for the curtain call with a deluxe offering from The Life of a Showgirl. Plus, new music from Phoebe Bridgers, U2, Leon Bridges, Perfume Genius, and Nanpa Básico.

Tinashe, “Popstar” (YouTube)

Blondshell, “Lucky” (YouTube)

Taylor Swift, “Pink Clouding” (YouTube)

U2, “Silencio” (YouTube)

Phoebe Bridgers, “On Video” (YouTube)

Madonna, Charli XCX, “Danceteria Afterhours Mix” (YouTube)

Leon Bridges, “Watch You Dance” (YouTube)

Julia Jacklin, “If I Had the Hand of God” (YouTube)

Perfume Genius, “Natural High” (YouTube)

Cara Delevingne, “What Love Is Like” (YouTube)

Lennon Stella, “Comedy Show” (YouTube)

Nanpa Básico, SOG, “No Me Morí” (YouTube)

Jeff Parker feat. Chris Speed, Kaveh Rastegar, Aaron Steele, “Miles’ Mode” (YouTube)

Jae Stephens, “Expensive & Difficult” (YouTube)

Bktherula feat. Underscores, “Addicted2U” (YouTube)

Tezzus, Che, “Matches” (YouTube)

Niko Rubio, “Dream” (YouTube)

Bree Runway, “Bags of Yen” (YouTube)

Jane Remover, “Beauty Sleep” (YouTube)

Mary in the Junkyard, “Jane” (YouTube)

Karina Rykman, “Riverside Drive” (YouTube)

Ibeyi, “Moshpit” (YouTube)

Lily Konigsberg, “Free Byrd” (YouTube)

Snõõper, “Mouth Closed” (YouTube)

Worldpeace DMT, “Gabriel” (YouTube)

Boyg1rl, Surfgang, “Show Me” (YouTube)

Rainbow Body, “Strange Memory” (YouTube)

Joy Oladokun, “Easy Company” (YouTube)

Stephen Wilson Jr., “Cornerman” (YouTube)