Taylor Swift says feeling ‘sick and exhausted’ on her Eras tour is what led to her writing Life Of A Showgirl

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Taylor Swift shared something new during an appearance on the Magic Radio Breakfast Show with Gok Wan and Harriet Scott this week.

The singer revealed that filming The Life of a Showgirl while also touring extensively with her Eras Tour actually helped her cope with being tired. She found that working on the project provided a welcome distraction and support during a demanding period.

The 35-year-old megastar completed 149 shows across five continents on the recording-breaking run.

Despite consistently flawless shows, the concerts-which lasted over three hours-were incredibly demanding. Taylor often got sick and was left feeling completely exhausted afterward.

Taylor shared that creating music for the album was both mentally and emotionally engaging, and it renewed her enthusiasm for performing live again. She felt it re-sparked her passion for being on stage.

During an interview on the Magic Radio Breakfast Show with Gok Wan and Harriet Scott, she explained that last summer’s tour was incredibly demanding. She was performing so many shows back-to-back that she was frequently getting sick and constantly feeling physically sore. However, she’d reached a stage in the show where she could perform it largely on muscle memory.

‘So I needed something [writing the album] to wake my brain back up.

The shows left me completely drained physically, but creating this music was mentally and emotionally invigorating. That excitement is what motivated me to get back on stage – I had a secret project I was really eager to share.

I was performing multiple shows on the Eras Tour – around three at a time. Then I’d fly to Sweden, return to the tour, and fly back to Sweden again. It was a really exciting time, though whether you’d call it ‘fun’ is a matter of opinion! It was quite the experience.

Oh my gosh, you guys, I just read that Taylor said the title track from The Tortured Poets Department – the one with Sabrina Carpenter on it! – is kind of about how she *has* to perform for us every single night, even when she’s feeling absolutely terrible. Like, she has no choice! It’s so sweet and heartbreaking that she pushes through for us, even when she’s struggling. I’m seriously obsessed!

She explained that certain lyrics in the song really reflect how she’s had to navigate this industry. It’s a song about encountering someone you admire, and them, instead of being inspirational, actually caution you against pursuing the same path. They’re just being truthful about the difficulties of the industry, but you decide to follow your dreams anyway.

While Swift didn’t mention specific artists who influenced the song, she has previously expressed admiration for singers like Faith Hill and Dolly Parton.

I believe that statement really explains my approach to this tour. There was absolutely no way I would cancel a show if I was feeling unwell. There was no possibility of saying, ‘I feel awful, so the show’s off tonight.’ We all operated under the principle that the audience is the most important thing – they were who we were there to serve.

The 35-year-old superstar finished an incredible 149 concerts on five different continents. While her performances always looked flawless, the shows-which lasted over three hours each-were physically demanding. Fans wouldn’t have known it, though.

Rather, she collaborated on the album’s production with renowned pop producers Max Martin and Shellback. This combination allowed her insightful lyrics to shine alongside their polished and successful musical style.

In addition to the new music, Swift also revealed a striking new look for the album’s artwork, inspired by the glamorous and confident style of a Vegas showgirl.

She explained that the title came from her experiences balancing her incredibly successful Eras Tour – which lasted for 21 months – with working in the studio late at night in Sweden.

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2025-10-03 18:49