Taylor Swift wrapped up her “The Life of a Showgirl” press tour by performing “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” Myers’ 1,713th appearance on Tuesday’s episode was a fitting number for the numerology that has followed her throughout her career, a number that adds up to 12 (and a nod to Swift’s 12th studio album) (and a nod to her lucky 13).
Swift and Myers covered her record-breaking new release, which became the most-consumed album of the week just hours before taping began, as well as her self-directed “Fate of Ophelia” music video, which reunited her with dancers and backup singers from the Elas tour.
The singer, who is known for rocking click tracks to her songs, revealed that she played a secret release to her dancers before filming the music video. “If they’re on an Elas tour, they know how to keep secrets,” she said.
Reflecting on running at the stadium, Swift admitted to having FOMO after seeing the VIP tent every night. At one of her London shows, then-boyfriend and now-fiancé Travis Kelsey was joined by local friends and A-list stars Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Cruise, Hugh Grant and Kelsey’s favorite director, Greta Gerwig. “He loves Greta Gerwig. He loves her movies, he loves her work,” Swift said.
As part of what Swift described as a routine debriefing in the car after a concert, Kelce told her that she was disappointed that Gerwig didn’t laugh at his “Barbie” joke. She recalled him telling her who he thought Gerwig was: “I love Barbie.” I’m just Ken too,” he said before pointing at Swift. She “smiled politely but said nothing,” he said.
Swift then realized she was the wrong person when she saw a video online of Gerwig and Kelsea “dancing the night away.” “Do the math,” she said. “Baby, is it possible that you complimented Hugh Grant’s wife Anna on her movie Barbie? And she politely nodded because she didn’t have the heart to say it wasn’t directed by her?”
But now that Ella’s tour is over and “Showgirls” is out, Swift is shifting her focus to wedding planning. Myers suggested ideas for invitations, from electronic blasts to framed prints. “Everyone will do it anyway.” “I can say this was my idea, so no one’s going to say you’re cocky or arrogant or anything,” he joked.
Swift also reflected on getting a call from Zoe Kravitz’s head of security when a snake was released in her home during the Palisades fire, her recent obsession with baking, and meeting Meyers on SNL in 2009.
“[Hosting SNL]was the most exciting thing that happened to me at 19 years old,” she said. They recalled her Twilight re-enactment skit that parodied one of the biggest movies of all time. “Looking back, I was very fortunate to be able to do everything around an iconic 2009 film like Twilight.”
More than a decade later, she jokingly says that SNL week was preparation for the chaos of the Elas tour. “I changed my clothes the most I’ve ever changed,” Swift said. “I thought I’d be able to go on the Elas tour. I’d get costume changes. It’s the most fact-based thing ever.”
That same sense of preparation propelled her to this latest chapter, the release of her 12th album and one she calls her favorite to date. “It was the happiest album release I’ve ever had,” she said.
