Photo credit: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift knows how to keep her fans on the edge of their seats — and this time, she only needed a few hours to do it.

On Monday, August 11 (US Time) a mysterious countdown clock appeared on her official website, immediately sparking speculation of a new era. The timer ran for just several hours before hitting zero at exactly 12:12 a.m. ET on August 12. When it did, Swift’s online store went live with pre-orders for her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

So far, details about the record are scarce. The store lists vinyl, CD, and cassette formats, but the release date remains unannounced. Physical editions are set to ship ahead of October 13. For now, fans are seeing a placeholder cover — a mint green background with a glittery, burnt-orange padlock — until the real artwork is revealed.

The big reveal isn’t over yet. New Heights — the podcast hosted by Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce — teased a “VERY special guest” for its next episode, premiering Wednesday, August 13, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Both Swift and the show have confirmed she’ll be joining them.

In a short teaser posted on Instagram, Swift says, “So I wanted to show you something,” before holding up a blurred-out version of the new album. “This is my brand new album, The Life of a Showgirl.” The full cover art is expected to debut during her New Heights appearance.

Swift’s last release, The Tortured Poets Department, dropped in 2024 and became the biggest Billboard 200 debut of her career, earning her another Album of the Year Grammy nod. Since ending her record-breaking Eras Tour in December, she’s kept a relatively low profile — aside from the headline-making moment in May when she secured the master recordings of her first six albums.

Now, with The Life of a Showgirl, Swift has officially kicked off her next chapter — and she’s doing it in true show-stopping style.