Everything Taylor Swift Could Possibly Announce at the AMAs (and Beyond)
Taylor Swift, the president of the “never knowing her next move” club, is plotting something… As much as all the signs lead to Reputation (Taylor’s Version), we’ve been bamboozled before. Swift is a multi-hyphenate and has a lot up her sleeve; what else could she possibly be teasing if it’s not re-entering her Reputation era? She has so many projects that are confirmed to be in the works and even more that are whispers of rumors. Swift has been dropping Easter Eggs related to the American Music Awards happening on Monday night; she changed her merch store layout to spell AMAs with Apparel, Music, Accessories, and Sale— there’s something she wants us to pay attention to tonight. But what could it possibly be? Here’s everything that she could be teasing tonight at the AMAs, from least to most likely to happen.
Starring Role in Whitney Houston Remake of The Bodyguard
Why we think it’s for sure not happening: Rumor has it Taylor Swift is the lead choice to star in the upcoming The Bodyguard remake, directed by Sam Wrench of the Eras Tour movie. However, even if Swift is going to star in the remake, the AMAs are a music award show, and it doesn’t make total sense for her to be dropping so many Easter Eggs to be in a movie, even if it’s her first leading role in a live-action film. It seems more like an announcement made for a trade outlet.
Debut (Taylor’s Version)
Why we think it won’t happen: While Swift has only 6 months left to use her trademark for Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version), most of her hints have been more Reputation coded than debut. Maybe she could announce both Debut and Rep at the same time, but it would be like rushing the last two albums everyone’s been excited for. An award show like the CMAs might be a better fit for a return to Swift’s country, even Stagecoach would make a little bit more sense for Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version). It would also follow the pattern of two re-records and one original album (Fearless (TV), Red (TV), Midnights, Speak Now (TV), 1989 (TV), Tortured Poets).
Her Feature Film Directorial Debut
Why we think it won’t happen: Again, like The Bodyguard news, it doesn’t make sense for Swift to make this announcement at a music awards show. As much as I personally want Swift to be loud and proud about her upcoming Movie Girl era, maybe this news is better situated for a film festival (she’s participated and screened her short film at the Tribeca Festival and TIFF) or a film trade news outlet. She takes her filmmaking seriously, and presenting her directorial film debut at a music awards show would make it seem like Swift has one foot in the sound stage and one foot in the music studio.
TS12 Announcement
Why we think it’s not likely to happen, but it’s not impossible: Again, Swift is a masterful chess player. While we’re all searching for patterns, clues, and easter eggs, she’s laughing her way to the studio knowing that we will never figure out her next move. Could she be ready to jump into a new era altogether? It’s not likely, since she only has six months to use her debut and Rep trademarks, but Swift loves to throw curve balls and she’s pitching hard tonight.
Nothing :(
Why we think nothing might happen: First of all, it would be really really sad to sit through the entire award show, hoping for some kind of announcement, only to be met with a video of Swift accepting the award wearing her rhinestoned Lover Era bodysuit. That was her go-to move during the Eras Tour, and for her most recent video acceptance at the iHeartRadio awards, she opted for a black long-sleeved and plaid skirt. We hope it doesn’t come down to this but it’s not out of the cards.
Eras Tour Documentary
Why we think it might be happening: Swift’s been seen filming the behind-the-scenes of the Eras tour, especially during the European leg. Maybe she’s not done with the Eras tour just yet and is ready to show the inner workings of the past two years of her life. It would also be a great teaser for her last two re-records, since it would be cool to see how she incorporated the unreleased albums into the tour. Also, it would be nice to wrap up her most successful concert tour in a nice little bow.
Reputation (Taylor’s Version)
Why we think it might be happening: All signs are pointing to Reputation, but she’s pulled a red herring many times before— one of the last times we thought we were getting Rep, she did a 180 and announced The Tortured Poets Department. It’s impossible not to get caught up in the clowning and math that comes with the numbers 5 and 26. We also got a sneak peek at “Look What You Made Me Do (TV)” on The Handmaid’s Tale last week. Swift has made album announcements at award shows, but it hasn’t been for a re-recording; that news was typically reserved for an Eras tour concert. Unfortunately, the Eras Tour is now over, and Swift needs to find another stage to surprise eager fans of her next move. It could be the AMAs, the same stage where she had to fight to perform her songs due to the masters dispute— it’s a great callback to someone who’s wronged her, especially since she allegedly has an opportunity to repurchase her masters. All that being said, the reason this isn’t higher on the list is definitely because it’s a coping mechanism for being burned so many times before.
An Update to the Eras Movie
Why we think it’s happening: It’s an easy addendum to make to the already successful concert movie. Also, with respect, Swift hasn’t been to the AMAs since 2022, and her last two album announcements were at the Grammys and the MTV Music Awards. So it would be kind of random to drop a new era revival at the AMAs. A new version with the Tortured Poets Department could easily go up on Disney+ the same night as the awards show, plus it gives Swift a chance to go dark once again, making it really feel like the Reputation Era is upon us.
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