Taylor Swift masterminded 'Opalite' video cast on whole new level
- - Taylor Swift masterminded 'Opalite' video cast on whole new level
Bryan West, USA TODAY NETWORK February 6, 2026 at 9:18 PM
0
Taylor Swift reunited her entire "Graham Norton Show" lineup in a nostalgia-soaked, '90s-themed "Opalite" music video.
Domhnall Gleeson, Cillian Murphy, Jodie Turner-Smith, Greta Lee and Norton himself all make playful cameos alongside Swift's Eras Tour dancers. The video opens with dancer Karen Chuang starring in a hilariously chipper commercial for "Opalite" spray, a cure for even the dreariest days.
A brunette Swift, sporting a yellow scrunchie, clicks off the TV just as the song kicks in. From there, it's full throwback: Swift in overalls folding a paper fortune teller, swinging on playground bars and crafting a "Friends4Ever" bracelet for the pet rock she treats like a soulmate. Midway through, Domhnall Gleeson appears as a man devoted to his beloved cactus, his plus-one everywhere he goes.
Once he spritzes it with "Opalite," the cactus shapeshifts into Swift, and the pair embark on a sweetly absurd rom-com montage: mall dates, dance-off wins and a final shot where the once-lifeless cactus and Swift’s rock meet as happily as their owners.
Taylor Swift announced her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," will drop Oct. 3.Not releasing on YouTube
The singer-songwriter's in-house marketing team, Taylor Nation, first shared the news on social media on Feb. 4: "It's officially official, Opalite is Taylor’s new single! And if you go to http://TaylorSwift.com now, you can count down to the release of the MUSIC VIDEO on @Spotify Premium and @AppleMusic."
The timing and platform choice make this release unusual. Swift usually starts with a YouTube premiere, but this time the video won't hit the video app until 8 a.m. ET Feb. 8 as she opts to debut it first on paid streaming platforms.
It’s officially official, Opalite is Taylor’s new single! And if you go to https://t.co/3S6eOKcMGi now, you can count down to the release of the MUSIC VIDEO on @Spotify Premium and @AppleMusic on Friday at 8am ET! While you’re there, shop new Opalite blue pearlescent vinyl,… pic.twitter.com/VCGFzB4ByT
— Taylor Nation (@taylornation13) February 5, 2026
'Now the sky is opalite'
In August, Travis Kelce told his brother Jason Kelce on a "New Heights" episode he can't stop listening to the third track from "The Life of a Showgirl."
"I keep listening to this album," Travis said. "It's still so poetic in her melodies and references. I've been dancing throughout the house."
It was reported by The Sun that Swift surreptitiously flew in and out of the United Kingdom the week before Thanksgiving, slipping through London and surrounding towns without a single photograph of her surfacing.
Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DmOjuQ_r8ohT6L1M52gvNQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5813552a0c11ccb347a45c64099c594a class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
">In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/DmOjuQ_r8ohT6L1M52gvNQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5813552a0c11ccb347a45c64099c594a class=caas-img>— Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"I swore loyalty to me, myself and I / Right before you lit my sky up." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/MN0Jc8SQoqLWRSdgq5q_4g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b8c687465070c70a444301b8a4bd8bbe class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"I swore loyalty to me, myself and I / Right before you lit my sky up." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
">"I swore loyalty to me, myself and I / Right before you lit my sky up." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/MN0Jc8SQoqLWRSdgq5q_4g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b8c687465070c70a444301b8a4bd8bbe class=caas-img>— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"When I said I don't believe in marriage / That was a lie."— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ol8bXZwtR3JhjH7yR.YQGA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8adcf9f96ef55ce8efc3aaf7c53b80ef class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"When I said I don't believe in marriage / That was a lie."— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
">"When I said I don't believe in marriage / That was a lie."— Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ol8bXZwtR3JhjH7yR.YQGA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8adcf9f96ef55ce8efc3aaf7c53b80ef class=caas-img>— Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it 100 / On the land, the sea, the sky / Pledge allegiance to your hands / Your team, your vibes." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TXd4Ff6PhiiNbTwpKai5jQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dab243144ad90ce67125496da37d236a class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it 100 / On the land, the sea, the sky / Pledge allegiance to your hands / Your team, your vibes." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
">"You dug me out of my grave and saved my heart from the fate of Ophelia / Keep it 100 / On the land, the sea, the sky / Pledge allegiance to your hands / Your team, your vibes." — Taylor Swift, "Ophelia"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TXd4Ff6PhiiNbTwpKai5jQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dab243144ad90ce67125496da37d236a class=caas-img>“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/I.jfgLNmVlpZMMtwOYvb0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/55c28a1cdc2501d70c96b539442d5797 class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
">“Summertime spritz, pink skies / You can call me 'honey' if you want / Because I'm the one you want. ... You could be my forever-night stand." — Taylor Swift, "Honey"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/I.jfgLNmVlpZMMtwOYvb0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/55c28a1cdc2501d70c96b539442d5797 class=caas-img>Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"The curse on me was broken by your magic wand /Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/xtj6T9wTU82.lGrwMF_Aeg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e9ecaf7bc4a191b4318a96d4bf4de2bf class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"The curse on me was broken by your magic wand /Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
">"The curse on me was broken by your magic wand /Seems to be that you and me, we make our own luck. ... His love was thе key that opened my thighs."— Taylor Swift, "Wood"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/xtj6T9wTU82.lGrwMF_Aeg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e9ecaf7bc4a191b4318a96d4bf4de2bf class=caas-img>I'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" style=padding-bottom:56%>"So many traitors, smooth operators / But I'm never gonna break that vowI'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FGz8F18yloBjmBusBHgiEA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cd737c95b9fdc65eb2215e5fabc27d77 class=caas-img data-headline="Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'" data-caption="
"So many traitors, smooth operators / But I'm never gonna break that vowI'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
">"So many traitors, smooth operators / But I'm never gonna break that vowI'm nеver gonna leave you now." — Taylor Swift, "Eldest Daughter"
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FGz8F18yloBjmBusBHgiEA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xMjQy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/cd737c95b9fdc65eb2215e5fabc27d77 class=caas-img>
1 / 7Taylor Swift's most notable lyrics about Travis Kelce on 'The Life of a Showgirl'
In "The Life of a Showgirl," Taylor Swift shows she's a woman in love and "proudly flaunts the physical and emotional attributes of her man," USA TODAY critic Melissa Ruggieri writes. Here are some of the lyrics on the album that nod to Travis Kelce.
'The Fate of Ophelia' search: Unlocking the Easter eggs of Taylor Swift's 'Showgirl' music video.
'When you know you know'
Swifties speculated the music video was dropping after choreographer Mandy Moore teased a "top secret music video that [she couldn't] talk about" on the Joe Vulpis podcast on Dec. 23.
"That's exciting," the host said laughing.
"Yes, which is very exciting," she responded. "It's gonna be a big year."
Moore worked with Swift on "The Fate of Ophelia," the first music video released from "The Life of a Showgirl."
"When you get to work with someone who sees the vision," Moore said. "She's an amazing director, probably my favorite director to work with, she just knows what she wants."
'Dancing through the lightning strikes'
"Opalite" has quickly become a fan favorite, breaking the Spotify record as the fastest non-single to hit 100 million streams in the first eight days of release. The song documents the glitter-tinged and giddy excitement of finding a love that feels effervescent and secure.
The lyrics weave together advice from Swift's family ("I had a bad habit / Of missing lovers past / My brother used to call it / 'Eating out of the trash'") with the feeling of finding a love that feels steady and secure.
Swift has long been drawn to the beauty and metaphor of its namesake stone.
"I really loved the idea that the sort of man-made gemstone jewel is also a metaphor for choosing your own path to happiness, making it yourself," she said during her "Official Release Party" film released in theaters the same weekend as her 12th studio album. "It didn't just happen to you. You had to fight for it. You had to work for it. You had to earn it."
Don't miss any Taylor Swift news; sign up for the free, weekly newsletter This Swift Beat.
Follow Taylor Swift reporter Bryan West on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Taylor Swift takes mastermind to new level with 'Opalite' video cast
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
