News - Taylor Swift's 'Life of a Showgirl' Reviews Are In—What You Need To Know

Taylor Swift fans around the world have rejoiced because her latest album, The Life of a Showgirl, has finally dropped. With over 5 million pre-saves on Spotify, it’s safe to say this is a monumental day in every Swiftie’s calendar. Reviews have been pouring in for the highly anticipated album, dubbed TS12, which was billed as a list of pop “bangers.” It comes more than a year after her previous album, The Tortured Poets Department, was met with critical acclaim. So, has her latest gift to the world of music lived up to the hype? It’s safe to say the reviews are somewhat mixed, as the likes of Rolling Stone gave The Life of a Showgirl a glistening 5 stars and The New York Times called it a “victory lap.” But not everyone is ready to hand out the Grammy awards, as the Financial Times says it “lacks sparkle” and the Sydney Morning Herald questions whether Swift has run out of hits. A stock image of Taylor Swift performing on stage at the Eras Tour in 2024. Kate Green / Getty Images What Have The Critics Said? ABC News—4 stars: The songs contain “a treasure trove of deliciously quotable lines” which blend the glitz and glamour of showbusiness with “humanity and humor.” Billboard— “Swift has synthesized the commitment to pristine hooks that she shares with Martin and Shellback, an increasingly idiosyncratic lyrical slant, and the mid-thirties perspective of her past few albums. The result is a collection of songs that are immediately engrossing and among the most affecting of Swift’s career.” Guardian—2 stars: “Perhaps it was rushed. Or perhaps its author was just exhausted, which would be entirely understandable. Even the immortal, it seems, sometimes need to take a break from pop’s constant churn and unceasing clamor for content.” Independent—4 stars: The Life of a Showgirl might be one of her most uneven records, but she’s as compelling as she’s ever been – the showgirl, the ringmaster and the circus all in one.” Rolling Stone—5 stars: “Showgirl is the direct result of Swift’s all-encompassing career feat—and an extension of it. She hand-picks elements from all of her eras, just as she did on tour, and combines what works best.” Telegraph—3 stars: “The Life of a Showgirl gives us romance and wit, but it lacks the drama of Taylor Swift’s earlier music.” Variety—“This feels like the Album of the Summer—the calendar be damned. It’s giddy, funny, touching, silly, haughty and moving in about equal measure, but most of all, it’s got a sunstruck kind of love that besottedly seeps through the orange LP grooves and might even make you believe in romance again, too.” The Life of a Showgirl, which was written during Swift’s record-breaking global Eras Tour (as if she wasn’t busy enough), was co-produced by Max Martin and Shellback who helped create some of her most memorable hits, “Shake It Off” and “I Knew You Were Trouble.” Swift has long been known for her witty word play, but some critics cite that as the potential downfall of her latest work. The track “Wood” has certainly raised the most eyebrows, drawing criticism for what Rolling Stone calls “gauche lyrics.” The BBC suggested that the song is “so silly and unexpected” that it even caused the reviewer to laugh out loud. What do the Swifties Think? As devoted Swifties digested this latest offering, they haven’t wasted any time before sharing their thoughts on social media. Indeed, within hours of the album’s release #TSTheLifeOfAShowgirl was already trending on X, with over 314,000 posts. This is what it feels like listening to opalite #TSTheLifeofAShowgirl pic.twitter.com/v15boz4XoG— anna ✨❤️‍🔥 (@annagutermuth) October 3, 2025 this is what pressing play on a new taylor swift album feels like #TSTheLifeOfAShowgirl pic.twitter.com/rtMfTy7Wes— nani ❤️‍🔥 (@iamhaunted13) October 3, 2025 X users said they are “absolutely obsessed” with the lyricism on offer, while others suggest that the album as a whole has an aura of “sultry sexy confidence and vulnerability.” ELIZABETH TAYLOR IS INCREDIBLE I AM SCREAMING RIGHT NOW ???????? #TSTheLifeofaShowgirl pic.twitter.com/0OGkmAEYUU— carah is a showgirl ❤️‍🔥 (@hauntedcarah) October 3, 2025 Rapper Nicki Minaj has even shown love for the track “Wood,” writing on X that it’s “EXACTLY what [she] needed” to hear. Oh Taylor #WOOD was EXACTLY what I needed tonight. Thank you.— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) October 3, 2025