Listen and Read the Full Credits
NEED TO KNOW
- Taylor Swift released The Life of a Showgirl on Oct. 3
- Her 12th studio album features contributions from Sabrina Carpenter and the late George Michael
- Swift produced the album alongside Max Martin and Shellback
Taylor Swift‘s 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, came together with the help of the music industry’s finest.
Released on Oct. 3, The Life of a Showgirl features Sabrina Carpenter on the title track and incorporates a sample from George Michael’s “Father Figure” in the song that shares its name.
Although Michael died on Christmas Day in 2016, his legacy continues to be managed by George Michael Entertainment — the official entity overseeing his estate, music catalog and intellectual property. Honoring Swift’s request, the organization approved her use of his work.
“We were delighted when Taylor Swift and her team approached us earlier this year,” they said in a statement on Instagram in October 2025. “When we heard the track, we had no hesitation in agreeing to this association between two great artists, and we know George would have felt the same.”
Swift collaborated on the album with Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback, who previously played key roles in shaping Red (2012), 1989 (2014) and Reputation (2017).
“It felt like catching lightning in a bottle. These guys are just geniuses,” the singer said on the New Heights podcast in August 2025. “Working with them again was absolutely incredible. We knew that we had to bring the best ideas we’ve ever had.”
Here’s a complete list of album credits for The Life of a Showgirl.
01: ‘The Fate of Ophelia’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Bass: Shellback
Drums: Shellback
Guitar: Shellback
Keyboards: Max Martin, Shellback
Omnichord: Shellback
Pedal Steel Guitar: Anders Pettersson
Percussion: Shellback
Piano: Max Martin
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Max Martin, Shellback
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing: Serban Ghenea, Bryce Bordone
02: ‘Elizabeth Taylor’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Bass: Shellback
Cello: David Bukovinszky
Drums: Shellback
Guitar: Shellback
Harp: Helena Stjernström
Keyboards: Max Martin
Omnichord: Shellback
Percussion: Shellback
Piano: Max Martin
Synth Strings: Mattias Bylund
Violin: Erik Arvinder, Hanna Helgegren, Mattias Johansson
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Programmer: Max Martin, Shellback
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Mattias Bylund, Max Martin, Shellback
Second Engineer: Bryce Bordone
String Arranger: Mattias Bylund, Max Martin
03: ‘Opalite’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Bass: Shellback
Drums: Shellback
Guitar: Shellback
Handclaps: Max Martin, Shellback, Taylor Swift
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Omnichord: Shellback
Percussion: Shellback
Engineer: Lasse Mårtén
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Programmer: Max Martin, Shellback
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Max Martin, Shellback
04: ‘Father Figure’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: George Michael. Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Bass: Shellback
Cello: David Bukovinszky
Clarinet: Tomas Jonsson
Drums: Shellback
Electric Guitar: Johan Randén
Guitar: Shellback
Hammond Organ: Mattias Bylund
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Omnichord: Shellback
Percussion: Shellback
Upright Bass: Stefan Wingefors
Violin: Conny Lindgren, Daniela Bonfigioli, Erik Arvinder, Fredrik Syberg, Lola Torrente, Mattias Johansson
Editing Engineer: Mattias Bylund, Stefan Pettersson
Engineer: Erik Arvinder, Lasse Mårtén, Mattias Bylund, Stefan Pettersson, Willem Bleeker
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Programmer: Max Martin, Shellback
Recording Arranger: Mattias Bylund
Recording Engineer: Erik Arvinder, Lasse Mårtén, Mattias Bylund, Max Martin, Shellback, Willem Bleeker
05: ‘Eldest Daughter’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Bass: Shellback
Guitar: Shellback
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Piano: Max Martin, Shellback
Tambourine: Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Engineer: Lasse Mårtén
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Max Martin, Shellback
06: ‘Ruin the Friendship’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Banjo Guitar: Shellback
Bass: Shellback
Drum Kit: Shellback
Guitar: Shellback
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Percussion: Shellback
Piano: Max Martin
Engineer: Lasse Mårtén
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Max Martin, Shellback
07: ‘Actually Romantic’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Banjo Guitar: Shellback
Bass: Shellback
Drum Kit: Shellback
Guitar: Shellback
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Percussion: Shellback
Piano: Max Martin, Shellback
Additional Engineer: Christopher Rowe
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Max Martin, Shellback
08: ‘Wi$h Li$t’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Bass: Shellback
Guitar: Shellback
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Pedal Steel Guitar: Anders Pettersson
Percussion: Shellback
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Max Martin, Shellback
09: ‘Wood’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggot
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Alto Flute: Andreas Andersson
Baritone Saxophone: Tomas Jonsson, Wojtek Goral
Bass: Shellback, Stefan Pettersson
Bass Clarinet: Andreas Andersson
Cello: David Bukovinszky
Clavinet: Stefan Wingefors, Thomas Hellsten
Drums: Shellback
Electric Guitar: Johan Randen
English Horn: Helena Stjernstrom
Flugelhorn: Janne Bjerger, Magnus Johansson
Flute: Tomas Jonsson, Wojtek Goral
Guitar: Shellback
Horn Arranger: Andreas Andersson, Mattias Bylund
Keyboard: Max Martin
Percussion: Magnus Sjolander, Miko Rezler, Shellback
Piano: Max Martin
Rhodes Piano: Mattias Bylund
String Arranger: Mattias Bylund
Trombone: Peter Noos Johansson
Vibraphone: Mattias Bylund
Violin: Conny Lindgren, Daniela Bonfigioli, Erik Arvinder, Fredrik Syberg, Lola Torrente, Mattias Johansson
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Recording Engineer: Erik Arvinder, Lasse Mårtén, Mattias Bylund, Max Martin, Shellback, Willem Bleeker
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
10: ‘CANCELLED!’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Bass: Shellback
Bassoon: Mattias Bylund
Cello: Antonio Roland, David Bukovinszky, Peter Volpert, Tomas Lundström
Conductor: Erik Arvinder
English Horn: Helena Stjernstrom
Flugelhorn: Janne Bjerger, Magnus Johansson
Flute: Tomas Jonsson
French Horn: Magnus Johansson
Guitar: Shellback
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Oboe: Teresia Alm Bylund
Strings: Bylund Strings, Stockholm Studio Orchestra
Synth Strings: Mattias Bylund
Trombone: Peter Noos Johansson
Viola: Christopher Öhman, Erik Holm, James Opie, Vidar Andersson Meilink
Violin: Anna Roos Stefansson, Claudia Bonfiglioli, Daniela Bonfiglioli, Fredrik Syberg, Iskandar Komilov, Jannika Gustafsson, Lola Torrente, Mattias Johansson, Oscar Treitler, Patrik Swedrup, Sofie Sunnerstam, Veronika Novotna, Yongmin Lee
Additional Engineer: Christopher Rowe
Digital Editing Engineer: Mattias Bylund
Double Bass: Bård Ericson
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Programmer: Max Martin, Shellback
Recording Arranger: Mattias Bylund
Recording Engineer: Erik Arvinder, Lasse Mårtén, Max Martin, Shellback, Willem Bleeker
11: ‘Honey’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Lyricist: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift
Accordion: Stefan Brunzell
Banjo: Per Strandberg
Bass: Shellback
Clarinet: Tomas Jonsson
Flute: Tomas Jonsson
Horn Arranger: Mattias Bylund
Keyboard: Max Martin
Piano: Max Martin, Stefan Wingefors
Tambourine: Shellback
Trombone: Peter Noos Johansson
Tuba: Peter Noos Johansson
Upright Bass: Stefan Wingefors
Wurlitzer Piano: Mattias Bylund
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Recording Engineer: Lasse Mårtén, Mattias Bylund, Max Martin, Shellback
12: ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott
Producer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Composer: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Songwriter: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, Shellback
Vocalist: Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter
Alto Saxophone: Wojtek Goral
Banjo: Per Strandberg
Baritone Saxophone: Tomas Jonsson
Bass: Shellback
Cello: David Bukovinszky
Clarinet: Tomas Jonsson
Drums: Shellback
Electric Guitar: Johan Randen, Per Strandberg
English Horn: Helena Stjernstrom
Featured Artist: Sabrina Carpenter
Flute: Tomas Jonsson, Wojtek Goral
Guitar: Shellback
Keyboard: Max Martin, Shellback
Mandolin: Per Strandberg
Pedal Steel Guitar: Anders Pettersson
Percussion: Shellback
Piano: Max Martin
Synth Strings: Mattias Bylund
Tenor Saxophone: Tomas Jonsson
Trombone: Peter Noos Johansson
Trumpet: Janne Bjerger, Magnus Johansson
Upright Piano: Mattias Bylund
Violin: Conny Lindgren, Daniela Bonfigioli, Erik Arvinder, Fredrik Syberg, Lola Torrente, Mattias Johansson
Mastering Engineer: Randy Merrill, Ryan Smith
Mixing Engineer: Serban Ghenea
Assistant Mixing Engineer: Bryce Bordone
Programmer: Shellback
Recording Arranger: Mattias Bylund
Recording Engineer: Erik Arvinder, Lasse Mårtén, Mattias Bylund, Max Martin, Shellback, Willem Bleeker
Credit to Nypost AND Peoples