Taylor Swift sets Patient Zero, adds four-song Encore

Patient Zero's release schedule

Taylor Swift will release “Patient Zero” on Sept. 25 through Republic Records. The same day, she will release The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore, a deluxe edition with four new songs. Physical CD singles will follow on Oct. 13.

The Encore expands Swift's latest album with “Patient Zero,” “Cleveland!,” “Pink Clouding” and “Babylon,” Metro reported. The four-song list gives the new single a place within a larger album release rather than presenting it only as a standalone track.

Swift's website is offering three CD versions of “Patient Zero” while supplies last. Each disc contains a different version: the original recording, an acoustic version or a piano version. Each costs $3.99, and the editions have different artwork, The Music Universe reported.

The CD pre-orders were available through Swift's website for 24 hours. Consequence said the limited pre-orders include the acoustic and piano versions. The Music Universe reported that the website's countdown revealed the physical offerings at 2 p.m. Eastern time on Sept. 22.

The Encore tracklist

The four new songs give listeners two release options on the same Friday. They can hear “Patient Zero” as a new single or get it as part of the expanded album with three additional tracks. The CD versions arrive later and offer alternate recordings of the single.

Swift's announcement follows “I Knew It, I Knew You,” her contribution to the Toy Story 5 soundtrack. She co-wrote and co-produced that song with Jack Antonoff, Consequence reported. The Music Universe described “Patient Zero” as the first single following Swift's 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl.

Swift's VMA plans

The release was preceded by a two-hour countdown on Swift's website. She also replaced the letter O with zeros in her social media bios, Consequence reported. Marca said the countdown was scheduled to end at 2 p.m. Eastern time, after fans had speculated about another album or a wedding-related announcement.

Swift is due to receive the inaugural Artist Director Honor at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. Her album is also nominated for Best Album at the ceremony, which is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 27. Consequence raised the possibility that she could debut “Patient Zero” during the show, but no performance has been confirmed.