Stephen A. Smith and Pat McAfee have applauded Taylor Swift’s new era.
On Friday, Swift shockingly released her double album, dropping the 16-song “The Tortured Poets Department” at midnight, followed by “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology” two hours later for an additional 15-song surprise.
Smith and McAfee are fans of the 14-time Grammy Award winner and her NFL star boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and supported Swift’s new album on social media.
Swift announced the new album would released on April 19 as she accepted her Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for “Midnights” on Feb. 4, and on Friday, the music was released to much acclaim, especially from two of sports’ biggest names.
“I’m so happy for @tkelce,” McAfee wrote on X. “That had to be insanely dope to listen to the first time…YINZ ARE DOING GREAT.”
On his Friday episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” he also went on a monologue about Swift and Kelce in light of the new album.
“If you just woke up this morning at all, you just listened to a brand new Taylor Swift album. Two albums,” McAfee said. “Surprise! I’m touring the world and selling out every single stadium on Earth. I’m in the middle of the most public relationship that sports has had in a long, long time. Remember she was changing outcomes of NFL games and also writing two albums. An absolute workhorse. …Travis, we are happy for you buddy.”
McAfee went on to say how perfect the two are for each other as two of the top people, if not the best, in their respective fields.
Here’s what to know about Taylor Swift’s new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’:
- The 14-time Grammy winner released her highly anticipated 11th studio album “The Tortured Poets Department” on Friday.
- Swift sent her fans into a frenzy at 2 a.m. after revealing the record is a double album. Titled “The Anthology,” Swift’s late-night surprise includes 15 bonus tracks, bringing the total song count to a whopping 31.
- Swift initially unveiled her 16-song album at midnight, including collaborations with Post Malone and Florence Welch on two tracks. There are also four bonus tracks, “The Manuscript,” “The Bolter,” “The Albatross,” and “The Black Dog” that are featured on various vinyl versions of the album. The four tracks, as well as 11 new songs, are included in “The Anthology.”
- A poem about heartbreak that serves as a prologue for the album was written by Fleetwood Mac alum Stevie Nicks.
- There are several celeb names peppered throughout the album’s lyrics, the mention of singer Charlie Puth’s name took some Swifties by surprise.
- While some of Swift’s exes aren’t spared on “TTPD,” the singer, 34, does seemingly reference her current beau Travis Kelce on the new album’s track “The Alchemy” in a loving way.
- As for her exes, 1975 frontman Matty Healy is reportedly referenced throughout the 31-song-strong record. In fact, Healy — who, before their summer split, was a rebound romance for the pop superstar following her breakup with British actor Joe Alwyn after six years — appears to be the subject of the vicious takedown “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.” Other fans, however, may speculate the “sparkling summer” line is about Alwyn. There are also hints that “I Can Fix Him” (No Really I Can)” — gotta love that title — might be about 35-year-old Healy.
- As for Alwyn, Swift dropped hints at the pair’s ill-fated 6-year romance for a good — or for him, not so good — part of the album. Check out the 10 Alwyn-related references we’ve spotted.
- Read The Post’s review of “The Tortured Poets Department” here.
- Shop special-edition vinyls of Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” at Target.
- Buy “The Tortured Poets Department” Ghosted White 2 LP special edition set now.
“I’m incredibly pumped for both of them. Literally since day one of this, I’ve believed that just from learning about Taylor Swift in that documentary and then knowing Travis, it’s like wait a minute. I’m no match-maker but but this feels like all the issues they both have had in their past relationships kinda get cured here if they’re together. … Congrats to Taylor.”
“She did it again, folks,” Smith wrote on X, pairing the post with two photos of him saying on-air, “Taylor Swift. That’s a superstar.”
Smith admitted last fall on ESPN’s “First Take” that he spent $20,000 on tickets to see Swift’s Eras Tour and has defended her relationship with Kelce, even as it received criticism for the attention the NFL gave them during the season.
“I have to take a moment to come to the defense of Taylor Swift,” he said during an episode of “First Take” in January. “Everybody’s sitting up there and acting like she’s some kind of impediment. Excuse me, she did her job. That Eras Tour? Off the chain, [it] generated billions.”
McAfee also expressed his frustration with football fans ahead of the Super Bowl, where Swift celebrated with Kelce and the Chiefs after they became back-to-back champions.
“The most successful woman on Earth right now happens to be dating the greatest tight end of all time who’s on the current dynasty. Why’s everybody so mad about it?” McAfee said. “I’m sick of people being mad about it. What are we even talking about? … I don’t fully understand.”
