Swift's 'Encore' Adds Four Tracks to Record-Breaking 'Showgirl' Amid Grammy Push
Taylor Swift released 'The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore' on September 25, 2026, adding four new songs to her 2025 album. The tracks, written in Sweden with Max Martin and Shellback, include 'Patient Zero,' 'Pink Clouding,' 'Babylon,' and 'Cleveland!'. Critics are divided, with some praising the emotional depth of 'Babylon' and 'Pink Clouding,' while others criticize the self-referential nature of 'Cleveland!'. The release coincides with Grammy voting and follows Swift's wedding to Travis Kelce.
Key points
- The Encore adds four tracks to the 2025 album, which had the biggest opening week in history.
- Swift wrote the new songs in Sweden with collaborators Max Martin and Shellback.
- The release includes a music video for 'Patient Zero' premiering at the 2026 VMAs.
- Critics rank 'Babylon' and 'Pink Clouding' highest, while 'Cleveland!' receives mixed reviews.
- The timing aligns with Grammy nominations and Swift's recent wedding to Travis Kelce.
Background
The original 'The Life of a Showgirl' was released in 2025 and set a record for the biggest opening week. It received mixed reviews, with some critics finding it overly wordy. Swift had previously promised not to expand the album, but released various acoustic demos. The Encore follows her July 2026 wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce.
How outlets are covering it
The Los Angeles Times ranks 'Babylon' as the best track, praising its tender vocal performance, while 'Cleveland!' is ranked last for its uninspired lyrics. The Guardian criticizes 'Cleveland!' as self-satisfied and notes the album's dilution of its premise, comparing Swift's strategy to Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo.' Billboard ranks 'Babylon' first for its narrative depth and 'Cleveland!' last, but notes its fun drum rolls. The Telegraph source was inaccessible due to a security block.
Why it matters
The Encore release impacts Swift's Grammy eligibility, potentially tying her with Frank Sinatra for most Album of the Year nominations. It also affects chart positions, pushing the album back to No. 1. The release highlights Swift's strategy of using deluxe editions to maintain relevance and engage fans.
What to watch
Swift will premiere the 'Patient Zero' music video at the 2026 VMAs. Grammy voters will soon decide on nominations for the February 2027 ceremony. The album's chart performance will be monitored in the coming weeks.
- Taylor Swift’s new ‘Encore’ songs, ranked from worst to best Los Angeles Times
- Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore review – flashes of humanity and bafflingly vindictive love songs The Guardian
- I’m a Swiftie and even I think these new songs are terrible The Telegraph
- All 4 New Songs on Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore’ Ranked Billboard
- This Is A Cry For Help Defector
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