Taylor Swift Names The Stars Featuring On 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)'

What began as a re-recording process for Taylor Swift following a dispute between her and her former record label, Big Machine Records about the ownership of masters for her first six albums, has become an event for Taylor Swift fans.

Devoted Swifties speculate about which album she’ll re-record next – to date, Swift has released (Taylor’s Version) of her albums Fearless, originally released in 2008, followed by Red (2012), and the upcoming Speak Now (2010).

Swift surprise-announced the release date for Speak Now (Taylor's Version) on stage in early May. Breaking the news on stage in Nashville, she guided her fans’ attention to a huge screen: "If you can direct your attention to that screen back there", Swift proclaimed as the date, 7 July, was revealed.

Swift has revealed the tracklist for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), which features re-recorded renditions from the original release, including the hits Mine, Dear John and Mean. The Anti-Hero singer has also unveiled two special guests who will lend their artistry to From The Vault tracks: Fall Out Boy (on Electric Touch) and Paramore’s Hayley Williams (on Castles Crumbling).

“I’m VERY excited to show you the back cover of Speak Now (my version) including the vault tracks and collaborations with Hayley Williams from Paramore and Fall Out Boy,” Swift wrote on social media. “Since Speak Now was all about my songwriting, I decided to go to the artists who I feel influenced me most powerfully as a lyricist at that time and ask them to sing on the album.

“They’re so cool and generous for agreeing to support my version of Speak Now. I recorded this album when I was 32 (and still growing up, now) and can’t wait to unveil it all to you on July 7th.” You can pre-order your copy of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) here.

In other Taylor Swift news, multiple reports indicate that her non-confirmed, rumoured romantic relationship with The 1975 singer Matty Healy has come to an end.

The news of Williams appearing on the tracklist arrives just days after she teased her collaboration with Swift at an Ulta Beauty event hosted by her hair dye company, Good Dye Young.

📹| Hayley Williams on receiving a Speak Now friendship bracelet recently!

“Let me just say, it comes at a very interesting time that you’re giving me this to wear, that’s all I’ll say” pic.twitter.com/3EDkaH9Y2g

— Taylor Swift Updates 🩵 (@swifferupdates) June 1, 2023

A Paramore fan gave Williams a Speak Now bracelet, in tribute to the album, with the Misery Business singer responding, "Let me just say, it comes at a very interesting time that you’re giving me this to wear, that’s all I’ll say”. During the event, Williams also hinted at a possible Paramore Australian tour for this November.

Last week, Fall Out Boy guitarist Joe Trohman announced his return to the band after taking a break for his mental health. Trohman's original hiatus announcement called back to Neil Young’s iconic line, “It's better to burn out than to fade away.” But in Trohman’s case, “I can tell you unequivocally that burning out is dreadful,” he wrote.

Trohman briefly departed the group just days after they announced the release of their eighth album, So Much (For) Stardust in January, which was released on 24 March. 

Announcing his return on Monday (29 May), the Sugar, We’re Going Down guitarist revealed, "Hey everyone, I'm officially back! I want to thank everyone for the love and support while I took some time away to focus on my brain and get healthy for my family, my friends and myself."