Taylor Swift has set two new streaming records on Spotify following the release of her latest single and an extended album. The 36-year-old pop star’s new track, "Patient Zero," released on Friday, became the most-streamed song by a female artist in a single day in 2026, according to the music streaming service. Alongside the single, Swift issued four new songs as part of the extended album *Life of a Showsgirl: The Encore*, which also broke the record for the most streams by a female artist in a single day this year.

This release marks Swift’s first new music since her marriage to NFL player Travis Kelce at New York’s Madison Square Garden in July. The singer addresses some of the criticism surrounding their relationship in one of the new songs, "Cleveland!," referencing Kelce’s hometown. Other tracks on the album include "Pink Clouding" and "Babylon."

Critical reception to the extended album has been mixed. Publications such as *The Telegraph*, *The Independent*, and *The Guardian* each awarded it two stars, with *The Guardian* describing the album as an “ambitious chorus line dancer” striving to prove her worth. Conversely, *The Times* gave it four stars, praising Swift’s skill in transforming personal, diary-like details into accessible pop music.

Unlike typical extended editions that include leftover tracks from the original album, these new songs were written after the initial 2025 release found commercial success. The music video for "Patient Zero," featuring actors Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell, is set to premiere at the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony. At the event, Swift will also receive the inaugural MTV Artist Director award, honoring musicians who direct their own videos.

Earlier this year, Swift achieved the distinction of being the most-streamed artist of all time since Spotify’s launch nearly two decades ago. She also became the youngest woman ever inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June, underscoring her enduring impact on the music industry.