Background

She’s immortal now. She couldn’t undo that even if she tried. That is what “The Life of a Showgirl” by Taylor Swift embodies.

“The Life of a Showgirl” is the title track and the final song on Taylor Swift’s twelfth studio album, released on October 2025. The record features Sabrina Carpenter, an opener on one leg of the Eras Tour, and now one of pop music’s top artists. Swift, Max Martin and Shellback are credited as the writers and producers.

The Expectations on Showgirls

When I think of showgirl, I’d imagine a sound closer to big band, similar to what Christina Aguilera had in Back to Basics, or sassy and jazzy, like what the performers in musical Chicago were serving. Instead, I heard a country-pop ballad with soft rock and synth influences.

Then, Sabrina Carpenter, whose reputation precedes her, was expected to infuse a playful and naughty energy that we’ve gotten used to with her last two studio albums, Short N Sweet and Man’s Best Friend. Instead, we get the two volleying on a midtempo track, zooming in on the lives of showgirls, instead of performing as showgirls.

There was a huge discourse about the track (and the broader album) living up to the public’s expectations of the album’s sound and vibe. And there’s an argument to be made that Taylor’s at fault. But if I strip out the narrative, the vocal harmonies, the songwriting, and the production turned out fine. I guess the reaction highly depends on the person listening, and whether they are a fan of surprises!

The Production of a Showgirl

Even though they were prominent throughout the song, I initially missed the stomp, clap beat. I don’t know if it’s because I was busy digesting Taylor’s words, or looking forward to Sabrina’s verses, but I thought the background beat was quite apt.

And then the bridge transitions to a full-on musical theatre bridge. Taylor and Sabrina make a dramatic increase in the tempo of their singing until significantly slowing down for the final lines, typical of showtunes. And the orchestral layering at its climax was a subtle but clever nod to the sonic style of showgirls.

The final spoken word segment over the recorded stadium applause of the Eras tour was the chef’s kiss. It gave me some minor goosebumps the first time I heard it. The ending felt like it wasn’t made just for the album, but for the Eras tour. In a way, this would have been a perfect track to cap off her career. But we are all so lucky she’s simply telling a story, but not ending hers, at least up until this point.

The Difficulties of a Showgirl

This is not the first time Taylor has sung about the price of stardom. “The Lucky One” and “Clara Bow” come to mind. But unlike the other two which solely tackle the perils of her situation, in “The Life of a Showgirl”, she also embraces it.

The song is a reflection of her contentment and acceptance of her fate as an immortal in pop culture. And what I surmise in the entire album is not just overflowing joy on the love she’s experiencing, but also finally having a healthy relationship with her fame and fortune. She’s happy in her career and she can still create music.

Conclusion

Not everyone can relate nor can understand “The Life of a Showgirl”. But I am happy that she’s married to the hustle and she wouldn’t have it any other way.