Taylor Swift has made a highly anticipated return to the stage after her ERAS tour, performing publicly for the first time since reclaiming her master recordings.
The 35-year-old, who has won 14 Grammy Awards, surprised concertgoers in Nashville during an event hosted by Travis Kells. She delivered an energetic rendition of her hit “Shake It Off” at the “Tight End and Friends” event, organized by three Super Bowl champions as part of their “Tight End University” training camp program.
Fans erupted in excitement, making it clear how much her performance was anticipated. Swift humorously shared, “We planned it three minutes ago,” before launching into her 2014 hit while taking the stage with an acoustic guitar.
Prior to her performance, other artists like Sophie Asucott, Graham Barham, and Chase Slice had warmed up the crowd, while Swift enjoyed the earlier acts from a VIP suite. Later on, Jordan Davis and Luke Combs also performed.
As Kane Brown wrapped up his set, Swift stepped out to join the fun, grabbing Rice’s guitar and dedicating her song to “our favorite player.”
While tickets to the event had been available to the public for a while, Swift’s performance had remained a closely guarded secret. The singer was seen live streaming the event and wore a black mini dress styled with a golden belt, while Kells was spotted in camouflage attire, cheering her on from the side.
This performance marks a significant moment for Swift as it’s her first since buying back her master recordings in a sizable deal reportedly worth $360 million. Last month, she announced that she had regained control of the entire catalog from her first six albums.
In 2019, record executive Scooter Braun acquired the rights to her earlier albums—”Taylor Swift,” “Fearless,” “Speak Now,” “Red,” “1989,” and “Reputation”—for $300 million without her consent, later selling them to Shamrock Capital. However, in 2018, she had signed a new deal with Universal Music Group and Republic Records, allowing her to record and own the masters of her newer works including “Lovers,” “Folklore,” “Evermore,” “Midnights,” and “The Tortured Poets Department.”
After the performance, Swift shared on social media, celebrating her comeback with photographs of fans who have supported her throughout her career, captioning one post with the lyrics, “You belong with me,” referencing her 2008 song.
