Taylor Swift has broken a podcast viewership record previously held by President Donald Trump. Her appearance on the “New Heights” podcast on YouTube attracted 1.3 million concurrent viewers within the first hour of streaming on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.
The award-winning singer appeared alongside her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason Kelce, who hosted the interview. Representatives for Swift confirmed these viewership numbers, marking a significant achievement in podcast engagement.
Swift’s record surpassed Trump’s previous record from his October 2024 appearance on the “Joe Rogan Experience,” which gathered 800,000 concurrent viewers in its first hour. This difference highlights a notable increase in podcast viewership metrics. The podcast did not, however, shatter the total view record.
CNN host Kate Bolduan remarked that Swift’s episode was on track to become one of the most-watched podcasts ever. The rapid accumulation of viewers reflected the combined appeal of Swift and the Kelce brothers, who host the popular sports-focused show.
Swift’s appearance on the two-hour “New Heights” podcast drew significant attention, causing a surge of fans that overwhelmed YouTube and disrupted the comments section at the 1 hour and 44 minute mark.
Co-host Jason Kelce commented on X that the 1.3 million views perfectly encapsulated the spirit of numerology, referencing Swift’s discussion about her fondness for the number 13 during the podcast.
The timing of Swift’s record-breaking performance is notable given Trump’s known hostility toward her. After Swift endorsed Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election campaign, Trump expressed his disapproval on his Truth Social platform, stating, “I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT”.
Trump’s criticism of Swift continued into May, when he posted another Truth Social message questioning her cultural relevance since his initial statement. He suggested Swift was no longer popular, although the podcast viewership numbers suggest otherwise.
During her “New Heights” appearance, Swift announced her upcoming album “The Life of a Showgirl,” set for release on October 3. This 12th studio album marks her first release since regaining ownership of her entire recording catalog, representing a pivotal moment in her career.
Swift revealed she worked on the album while touring Europe during her Eras Tour, traveling to Sweden during breaks to complete the recording process. She described the album as reflecting her inner life during the tour’s dynamic atmosphere.
The album features collaborations with longtime producers Max Martin and Shellback, who previously worked with Swift on hits such as “Shake It Off,” “Style,” and “Blank Space.” This marks the first time she has created an album exclusively with this production team.
Swift disclosed all 12 track titles during the podcast interview, with one collaboration featuring Sabrina Carpenter on the title track. She noted there would be no additional songs or deluxe edition, unlike her previous release, “The Tortured Poets Department,” which included 31 tracks.
The podcast appearance also allowed Swift to discuss her emotional reunion with her master recordings. She recounted receiving the news of the purchase in Kansas City, Missouri, dramatically falling to the floor and crying upon learning she had successfully bought back the rights to her first six albums.
Swift obtained the song masters from private equity firm Shamrock Capital earlier this year, concluding a long-standing dispute that began in 2019 when her former label Big Machine Records sold her catalog to music executive Scooter Braun. The acquisition was a significant victory in her efforts to control her artistic legacy.
The record-breaking podcast viewership demonstrates Swift’s continued cultural influence and ability to generate significant audience engagement across various media platforms. Her appearance on “New Heights” garnered more than 175 million views on the promotional clip alone before the full episode’s release, indicating the anticipation surrounding her rare extended interviews.
Travis Kelce described the new album as featuring more upbeat and fun pop elements compared to Swift’s previous release, characterizing it as a contrast to “The Tortured Poets Department.” Swift assured the album contains infectious melodies and represents the most joyful and dramatic period of her life during the Eras Tour experience.
