Taylor Swift is ensuring that August becomes a month etched in the hearts and minds of her fans. On August 13th, the Grammy-adorned artist made her debut on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's 'New Heights' podcast, hosted alongside Jason Kelce, where she unveiled intimate details of her personal life. This candid conversation offered a glimpse into her bond with Travis and how her Eras Tour sparked her latest 12-track album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' set for release on October 3.
"I have this podcast to thank for so much," Taylor quipped. "It essentially served as Travis's personal dating app, leading to me gaining the best boyfriend ever."
The "Fortnight" crooner reflected fondly on her love story with Travis, recounting how she stumbled upon his 'New Heights' episode after he boldly attempted to meet her during her July 2023 Kansas City Eras Tour stop. "His bold romantic gesture—declaring his desire to date me—was so unexpected," Taylor reminisced, laughing off her initial thought that "this guy missed out on a meet and greet and was making it a public spectacle."
She appreciated his upfront and public declaration of intentions, noting her aversion to online interactions. "It felt like a scene from an '80s John Hughes film," she shared. "Imagine him standing outside my window with a boom box, asking, 'Do you want to go out with me? I even made you a friendship bracelet!'"
Continuing her nostalgia-tinged narrative, Taylor added, "When I realized he wasn't crazy—a big 'if,' mind you—I saw a reflection of the romance I'd been penning songs about since my teenage years." Travis chimed in, emphasizing, "I was there at the Eras Tour, soaking in every one of those songs."
Taylor delved deeper into their early encounters, emphasizing the authenticity of their connection. "From our first few conversations, I knew he was genuine. He got to know me in such a natural, effortless way," she recalled. "His ability to make me laugh instantly, over mundane things, was mesmerizing."
Travis has since become her biggest supporter. "He's a vibe enhancer in everyone's life," she gushed. "He's like a human exclamation mark, like pressing the 'enhance color' button on a phone picture."
Despite her playful ribbing about Travis's "lack of logistical planning" in his quest to meet her in Kansas City, Taylor credited the podcast for their relationship. Travis added, "I'm the luckiest man alive."
Taylor shared how Travis has been by her side through thick and thin, including assisting her in reclaiming the masters of her first six albums from Scooter Braun's Ithica Holdings LLC, which acquired them in 2019.
"Ever since my teenage years, I've been diligently amassing funds with the sole intention of reclaiming my music," she mused. "This dream has always lingered in my heart." Initially, when her music was sold, she saw re-recording her tunes as her sole ticket to owning them once more. "It felt like my heart was being torn out," she confessed. "The desire to possess my music occupied my thoughts daily, an incessant whisper that haunted me."
Post the Eras Tour, Taylor revealed that she and her team felt empowered to revisit the subject with the current proprietors, the private equity giant Shamrock Capital. "I yearned to outright own my music, sans any partnerships. I didn't seek a 30% stake; I wanted it all. Yet, I was acutely aware that convincing them to sell it to me was a long shot," she lamented.
Consequently, Taylor opted to tackle this endeavor in her signature manner. "I resolved that rather than treating this as a mere business negotiation, I'd harness the power of human emotion. My motive wasn't driven by financial gains but by sentiment; these songs are akin to my handwritten life diaries," she elaborated. Hence, instead of dispatching her management, the "Lavender Haze" chanteuse entrusted her mother, Andrea Swift, and brother, Austin Swift, with this mission.
"They narrated our years-long struggle to acquire it, detailing every failed attempt," she recounted. "Mom called me afterward, saying they were delightful and listened intently but remained noncommittal about the outcome."
With tears streaming down her face, Taylor conveyed her acceptance, reminiscing, "I whispered to myself, 'I comprehend; for a decade, I haven't nurtured any hopes.'" A couple of months later, she emphasized, after the Super Bowl had concluded, her mother imparted the news. "She declared, 'You've reclaimed your music,'" Taylor recounted, further adding, "And in an almost theatrical manner, I crumpled to the ground."
Her words resonated deeply as Travis sang her lyrics, "It's been a long time coming." Taylor then unveiled that Travis was the first person she informed of this triumph. "I was sobbing uncontrollably," she shared. "I exclaimed, 'I've got all my music back!' and broke down in tears." Travis admitted, "I started crying too. Witnessing your creative process, the dedication, focus, and strategy behind your music and videos, I'm in awe. You've devoted your entire life to this, and I couldn't be happier for you."
