Another Swiftie conspiracy theory is at play, this time involving Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album.
As the 27-track record dropped last night, Taylor Swift fans had already lost hope that the GRAMMY-winning singer was joining her fellow music industry powerhouse after she was left off the tracklist. However, the album's eighth track, "BODYGUARD," is renewing faith that Swift may have worked on the project after all.
Close listeners noticed that backing vocals towards the end of the song closely resembled Swift's signature musical stylings. The short section of the song immediately sent Swifties and the BeyHive into a frenzy, prompting them to flood social media with their takes.
"That is 100% Taylor Swift on Bodyguard by Beyonce," one fan wrote on X. "Now give me a full collab."
"You know what, normally I would say that Taylor being backing vocals on 'Bodyguard' is delusional but 'This Is What You Came For' has taught me otherwise," another user wrote. The post references subtle backing vocals on the Rihanna and Calvin Harris track that were later revealed to be Swift.
While the tracklist for Beyoncé's new record debuts collaborations with artists like Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, and Shaboozey, production credits are still unclear. Therefore, songwriting credits are still being kept under wraps, as well as who produced, sang backup vocals, and played an instrument in the studio.
While Swift and Beyoncé have seemingly formed a close bond after the dueling releases of their concert films late last year, Cowboy Carter was revealed to have been five years in the making, before they began to lean into their musical power duo personas. However, Swift's beginning as a country singer in her early career may have been enough to secure her a coveted spot on the record.
Swift was speculated to have completed a full-length collaboration on the album before the tracklist had been debuted. Now, it seems that fans will have to possibly wait longer until they formally hit the studio for a full-length duet.
The pair frequently mirrored each other while working throughout the past year. Their summer concert tours were two of the hottest tickets in each city that they visited. While Swift's Eras Tour was meant to commemorate all of her past work, Beyonce's Renaissance Tour was solely devoted to the GRAMMY-winning house music album.
After they both were announced to be releasing filmed captures of their respective concerts, they attended each other's premieres in a move of solidarity among women in the music industry.
"I'm so glad I'll never know what my life would've been without Beyonce's influence," Swift wrote on Instagram at the Eras Tour film premiere. "The way she's taught me and every artist out here to break rules and defy industry norms. Her generosity of spirit. Her resilience and versatility. She's been a guiding light throughout my career and the fact that she showed up tonight was like an actual fairy tale."
Along with Cyrus, Malone, and Shaboozey, other artists who joined Beyonce on Cowboy Carter included Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Willie Nelson, Linda Martell, Willie Jones, and her daughter, Rumi Carter.
