Taylor Swift surprised fans at the Grammy Awards on Sunday with the announcement of her new album.
The singer, 34, won the coveted Best Pop Vocal Album award for her outstanding work on Midnights and it was during her acceptance speech that she shared the exciting album news.
She beat strong contenders, including Kelly Clarkson’s Chemistry, Miley Cyrus’ Endless Summer Vacation, Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts, and Ed Sheeran’s Subtract.
While accepting her 13th Grammy award, Swift thanked the Recording Academy, attributing her success to the unwavering passion of her fans. She also announced her upcoming album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, which is set to be released on April 19.
“I want to say thank you to the members of the Recording Academy for voting this way. But I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans,” Swift said.
“So I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand new album comes out on April 19.”
Elaborating on the upcoming project, Swift shared, “It’s called the Tortured Poets Department. I’m gonna go and post the cover right now backstage. Thank you. I love you. Thank you.”
Shortly after, she posted what appeared to be the album cover on her Instagram page.
Swift’s winning album, Midnights, debuted in October 2022 as her tenth original studio album.
The record spawned chart-topping hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including the No. 1 single Anti-Hero, along with Lavender Haze and Karma, both reaching No. 2 on the chart.
In August 2022, Swift revealed the concept behind Midnights. In a note accompanying the album announcement, she delved into the album’s theme, writing, “We lie awake in love and in fear, in turmoil and in tears. We stare at walls and drink until they speak back. We twist in our self-made cages and pray that we aren’t — right this minute — about to make some fateful life-altering mistake.”
Describing the album as “a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams,” Swift emphasised its exploration of the challenges faced in the dark hours.
“The floors we pace and the demons we face,” she added. “For all of us who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching — hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve…we’ll meet ourselves.”
