9:12 AM, August 11, 2025. The digital world stopped. 12 cryptic photos, a glittering orange countdown, and a series of coded clues dropped by @taylornation social media accounts unraveled a mystery, years in the making. Taylor Swift was not just teasing a new album, TS12, as Swifties affectionately call it—she was orchestrating a labyrinth of secrets, clues, and promises that only the most devoted Swifties could decode. This is the untold story of The Life of a Showgirl, the Easter eggs that led to it, and the grand spectacle that is about to redefine her legacy.
Rewind to 2022, in the Anti-Hero music video from her 10th studio album, Midnights, Swift showed us two versions of herself: One in a subdued grey outfit, now clearly a nod to Tortured Poets Department, and the other in a sparkly orange and green bodysuit, which, in hindsight, is a direct hint to The Life Of A Showgirl.
The color palette of orange and green, and the number “12” have followed her ever since. In her letter on purchasing her master’s, the word “thiiiiiiiiiiiis” had exactly 12 “I’s.” In an Instagram post before the Miami Eras tour show, a prominent sign said A12, meaning in Swiftie speak, August 12th. As for the specific color palette, she incorporated many orange and green outfits in the Eras tour. To top off this elaborate trail of clues, the now-famous moment: in the final performance of “Karma,” Swift exited the stage through a bright orange door… flanked by four locks.
At the same time as the 12-photo post, the internet was breaking over the flurry of TS12-related hints. The New Heights podcast alluded to a “VERY Special guest” on their August 13th episode with a silhouette of the Cruel Summer singer and a glittery orange backdrop.
New Heights is hosted by Swift’s fiancé, Travis Kelce, and his brother Jason Kelce, both NFL stars. Simultaneously, a countdown appeared on Swift’s website, which expired on August 12 at 12:12 am, revealing her new album, The Life of a Showgirl, with a blurred-out cover.
Later, Taylor divulged the cover, track list, and release date on the podcast, along with four vinyl variants, which were linked to the four locks that flanked the orange Karma door. TS12 Easter eggs were everywhere.
Swift on The Life of A Showgirl: “I wanted melodies that were so infectious you were almost angry at it and lyrics that are just as vivid,” she revealed on the podcast. “I wanna be as proud of an album as I am of the Eras tour and this [album] is that.” Kelce added that he’s listened to every song on the new album and can confirm that they are “all 12 bangers”.
A new rumor has been spiraling that the So High School singer may be performing at the 60th Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium based on her remark, “I’m thinking about sourdough bread 60% of the time,” and Levi’s Stadium’s mascot being Sourdough Sam. Maybe we will hear The Life of A Showgirl sooner than expected during the NFL halftime!
