Overview

• The fourth studio project, released via Taylormade/Def Jam, ends Taylor’s five-year recording hiatus with a narrative-driven 22-track set.
• An accompanying short film—written, directed, produced and starring Taylor under The Aunties—debuts in an exclusive Amazon Music livestream at 8 p.m. PT, with viewing on Prime Video after the stream.
• Spoken narrations feature Taraji P. Henson, Issa Rae, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Sarah Paulson, Niecy Nash and Jodie Turner-Smith, alongside music collaborators Jill Scott, Tyla, Lucky Daye and Kaytranada.
• Taylor is on vocal rest following a recent vocal-cord procedure to remove benign growths, a context that informs the project’s visual-first rollout.
• She celebrated the release with an Aug. 20 event at New York’s Republic Studios attended by Aaron Pierre, Ciara, A$AP Ferg and Dave East, and the album closes with “Always” featuring her daughters Junie and Rue.