Taylor Swift’s Full Interview with Ellen

[Audience Applauding]
Ellen DeGeneres: We have had a lot of fun

with our first guest over the years,
take a look.

Our next guest has had the number one
album on the Country's charts for a record

ten weeks in a row.
Please welcome Taylor Swift.

[Audience Cheering]
♫...That's what people say, mm mm ♪

Your musical crush, somebody in the
business?

Taylor Swift: Oh, Justin Timberlake.
Ellen: Justin Timberlake is your favorite?

Justin!
[Audience Cheering]

Taylor Swift: That's the best surprise
ever! This is the best day ever!

Justin Timberlake: [Laughing] That's great!

Ellen: Finish this statement: I am
Taylor blank.

Taylor Swift: I think just like birth
certificate wise it's Swift.

Ellen: Like I am Ellen blank.
I am Ellen DeGeneres.

I am Ellen DeGeneres and I am married
to Portia de Rossi.

I am Taylor Swift, I am dating blank.

[Audience Laughing]
Taylor Swift: Nobody.

[Audience Laughing]

That's true though.

Ellen: I am Taylor Swift and my publicist
told me to say blank.

Taylor Swift: My publicist told me not to
answer any personal questions.

Ellen: Now we're getting somewhere.

♫...Shake it off, shake it off...♪

Ellen: The kitty corner is a show for
people who love cats.

Taylor Swift: I will answer your questions
about cats. [Laughs]

Ellen: Yeah.
Taylor: You can call us with your questions.

Ellen: And we can call it cat calls!
[Audience Laughing]

Taylor: Or, look what the cat called in!
[Audience Laughing]

Taylor Swift & Zac Efron: ♫ Every single
time I come on this show, ♫

♫ It's really weird, really weird
All because of Ellen ♫

♫ I've been on this show
8 times now and I still remember ♫

♫ Ellen hiding in a bathroom ♫
[Audience Laughs]

♫ With a hidden camera and she
scared me so bad ♫

[Ellen Screams]
♫ I fell and I could've died ♫

[Audience Laughing]
[Music Continues]

Ellen: Taylor! Taylor!

♫

Dinosaur: Woah!
Taylor Swift: [Screams] Why did you do that?

♫

Ellen: Up in the air.

Taylor Swift: Being on Ellen's show is
one of the best--

Ellen: Monotone like that.

Taylor Swift: Being on the Ellen show is
one of the best experiences you can have.

Ellen: Now laugh in a monotone way.

[Taylor Laughing]

[Ellen Laughing]
Ellen: Yes.

[Audience Cheering]

Taylor Swift: That was an amazing montage!
Ellen: I know!

And that's--no, no one's in there.
Taylor Swift: Okay.

Ellen: We're not going to do it to you
today.

Taylor Swift: And it's not amateur hour.
Ellen: No, no.

I'm not gonna, you're, because I can't
top how I did it the first time.

You were the best scare,
well I don't know Sara Paulson was

pretty good too, but--
Taylor Swift: That was a near death experience.

Ellen: It kind of was.
You went down.

Taylor Swift: Yeah. There were several
ways I could've died.

Ellen: Well, now you're being dramatic.
Taylor Swift: Yeah.

Ellen: Yeah. No that's extreme.
Taylor Swift: Yeah.

It's, it, I really just was watching that
backstage and I was just thinking like,

thank you so much for going so above and
beyond to make people happy.

[Ellen Laughing]
Yeah, and well, that's not a good example.

Ellen: No, no, no.
Taylor Swift: But--

Ellen: No you could've hit your head on
the toilet bowl.

Taylor Swift: It was funny afterwards you
did this laugh afterward that I have found

myself, I loved the sound so much,
that I've found myself doing it sometimes

when I laugh hard enough.
You went [grunting].

[Ellen Laughing]
Taylor Swift: You went [grunting].

And you couldn't breathe!
Ellen: Uh-huh. That's how happy I was.

Taylor Swift: That's how happy you were
to see me fall down like that.

Ellen: Yes, yes. And now you do it too,
you said.

Taylor Swift: It's caught on. It's a great
sound. If you go back and watch it on YouTube,

listen for her laugh and then who'll be
the one who's embarrassed?

Not the one on the ground.
[Audience Laughing]

Ellen: Keep in mind, that you haven't
been here in four, no,

how long has it been?

Taylor Swift: Yeah, four years.
I was recovering from the fall.

Ellen: No, no, no!
[Audience Laughing]

But look at all the content we had,
and you haven't been here in four years.

You'd think you'd want to come back
as you had so much fun.

Taylor Swift: I know, and now I have.
Ellen: Okay, and now you've come back.

Taylor Swift: Yeah I have come back.
I mean, I had an album out called Reputation

Ellen: I know.
Taylor Swift: --and I really--

[Audience Cheering]

Thank you guys.
You guys are friendly.

Yeah, with the album I just basically
wanted to just make music and not

explain it.
Ellen: Yeah.

Taylor Swift: But, I missed you so much.
It was really--

Ellen: You sold a bunch of albums
without even talking.

[Everyone Laughing]

I mean usually people go to promote their
music because it helps sell albums.

You don't have to do that.

Taylor Swift: Well that's nice of you to
say.

I mean I am having fun being back here.
It's been really great to be back here and

like, I definitely do, I think as a
songwriter I enjoy communicating

about what I've made, like I really do
like that part of the process,

but I also just feel like with my career
I want to do what feels right at the time.

Ellen: Yeah.
Taylor Swift: You know? Like, so it just,

at that time I coined this phrase
"there will be no explanation,

there will be just reputation"
'cause I am dramatic.

Ellen: Yes.
Taylor Swift: That's a very dramatic thing,

but it rhymed, it was kind of catchy,
and so I stuck with it.

Ellen: Right, is that in one of your songs
'cause if it isn't it should be.

Taylor Swift: Thank you, no. And I think
it's a little late for that 'cause now

we're on to another, different album.

Ellen: I know, but you still could
have that.

Taylor Swift: For the, for an album
that's not Reputation?

Ellen: Yeah.

[Audience Laughing]

Taylor Swift: So, it's a little off
brand, but I will think about it.

Ellen: No, no. Just like clothing comes
back in style,

you can come right back around to that
topic again if you'd like.

Taylor Swift: It could be like a vintage.
Ellen: You can do anything

you want Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift: Thank you for saying that!

[Audience Cheering]

Ellen: You know, you, I mean really,
people thought "oh god she's been away

for so long, how is this album going to
do?"

And they put so much, I don't think
pressure on you 'cause I don't think

you felt pressure--
Taylor Swift: Yeah there's pressure.

Ellen: Really?
Taylor Swift: Yeah, for sure.

Ellen: Oh, okay. But 'cause it seemed like
people were like expecting this not to be

as good, or that album to not be as,
and you just came back and proved

them all wrong.
Taylor Swift: Aww.

Ellen: You know, it's true!
Taylor Swift: Thanks.

Ellen: 'Cause you didn't worry about how
certain people do things,

you do things your own way and it all
works out for you.

Taylor Swift: Thank you so much.
Ellen: Well you're welcome.

Now let's talk about me.
[Everyone Laughing]

No, not talk about me.
But so these, these, here let's talk

about you're on the cover of Entertainment
Weekly, you have all these Easter eggs

on here right?

Taylor Swift: Yeah. And I feel like--
Ellen: Explain what the eggs are

to people who don't understand.

Taylor Swift: Yeah 'cause I think it's,
I think that is necessary.

So it's like when we say "Easter eggs"
we're not only talking about like

Easter eggs that you would go on an Easter
egg hunt for on Easter.

It's like, it's kind of a, like a, it's
kind of like a clue,

like a foreshadowing kind of thing.

I like to plant Easter eggs in a video
like, that would be like a lyric from

unreleased music, or like a little hint or a
little link to what's coming in the future.

Ellen: Right.

Taylor Swift: Um, so yeah, that was kind
of the theme of what we did at the

Entertainment Weekly thing on, and it's
just been really fun to kind of expand

the musical experience past just listening
to a song.

Like I also want people to be like,
watching the music video,

and what's that thing in the background and
what's that song playing underneath there and

what's, is there a reason she said that
in French? So.

Ellen: Right. [Everyone Laughing]
Because people, and usually your fans are

pretty good at figuring it out, right?

Taylor: They're excellent at figuring it out.

Ellen: What is the worst-- what, how far off have they been?

What's the worst they've been?

Taylor: Oh man. Umm...

Well, there were some fans that thought
I had something to do with Avengers: Endgame.

[audience laughs]
Ellen: Oh, really?

Taylor: Which I, which I would've loved
to have been asked, but I wasn't--

Ellen: No, you weren't.

Taylor: --asked to be in it at all.
Ellen: Yeah.

Taylor: Because we had the single coming out the same day

and I have a song that was called Endgame,

and so they were like, "oh my god, she's
going to defeat Thanos," and... [audience laughs]

I let everyone down, again.

Ellen: Yeah, yeah. Well, that was confusing.

Oh your jacket, you have a lot of things on here,

but you don't have something that,

next time you wear a jacket,

Taylor: [gasps] Thank you!
Ellen: You're welcome.

Taylor: It's you as a kitty cat!

Ellen: Yeah, and that's two things you love.

Taylor: Those are the two things I love the most.

Ellen: Together, put together.
Taylor: Yeah!

Ellen: Alright. We have to take a break. I'll let you cry about that.

Taylor: Thank you!
Ellen: We'll be back.

We're back with Taylor Swift, who was just
telling me about washing her legs in the shower.

I couldn't hear you.
Did you say you do wash them or you don't?

Taylor: I do, because when you shave your legs, isn't,

the shaving cream is like soap, right?

Ellen: Yeah, it is. That is, I think that's the reason
that most women wash their legs,

because we have to because we shave our legs.

Taylor: Yeah.
Ellen: Yep.

Taylor: So that counts, so, yeah.
Ellen: Oh for sure.

It's, it's--
Taylor: On the right side of history, though.

Ellen: Unless you're not shaving and then you're,
then you're not washing.

So whenever you're not shaving,
you don't wash, you're saying.

Taylor: No, I don't, I don't think I would say that.

[audience laughs]
Ellen: Well, it seems like you did just say it.

Taylor: But I kind of always shave my legs.

Ellen: Every day?

Taylor: Well, I mean, yeah.

Ellen: Every day?
Taylor: Yeah.

Ellen: You must be hairy.
[audience laughs]

Alright. So...[laughs]
Taylor: So sweet.

Ellen: Let's talk about-- [chuckles]

I don't know why you don't come here more often.
[audience laughs]

Alright. Let's talk about Me.
We were just playing it during the commercial break,

which I love that song. I love that video so much.

Taylor: Thank you.
Ellen: That must've been so fun to shoot.

Taylor: It was, it was so fun. That's actually, um...

Ellen: Is that your new kitten?

Taylor: That's my new kitten, Benjamin.

Ellen: Wait, did-- first of all, let's finish talking about the video, because it's so good.

Brendon Urie, right, is that his last name?

Taylor: Brendon Urie is one of the most--
Ellen: From Panic at the Disco!

Taylor: -- incredible performers. [audience cheers]

Ellen: Yeah, he is amazing. I love that y'all were together in that.

Taylor: Oh yeah. I mean, he does this little dance coming up. Or he already did it.

But all his little dances are like, that! [laughs] Look at him.

He's just like, he would raise the energy in any situation, like.

Ellen: Yeah, I love him.
Taylor: He was, he was just amazing.

Ellen: Alright. We're going to get to the kitten in a minute, but,

did the speaking French in the beginning of it,

does that mean something?

Taylor: Yeah, definitely.
Ellen: Okay.

Did you know French already or did you learn it for that?

Taylor: I've tried to learn French several times in my life,

because I think it's a really beautiful language.
Ellen: It is beautiful.

Taylor: And, I definitely made sure that I had native French speakers on set,

because I didn't want to butcher the language of love.

Ellen: Right.
Taylor: Like, that's not what I came here to do.

Ellen: Say something in French right now.

Taylor: Um, you're putting me on the spot, but I mean,

je suis calme.

Ellen: Ah, thank you.
Taylor: I don't know.

Ellen: What does that mean?
Taylor: It means I am calm.

Ellen: Oh.

Taylor: Uh, [other French phrase]

Ellen: Oh, that's good. That's a good one.
Taylor: Thanks.

Ellen: I don't know what that means, but that sounded real French.
[audience laughs]

Taylor: It means "I love cats."

Ellen: Ok, so let's talk about cats.
Taylor: No it doesn't.

Ellen: So was that kitten-- it doesn't? [chuckles]

So was that kitten, um, just there to be in the video or did you-
and then you took it home?

Or did you put it in the video and it was yours already?

Taylor: He was, he was a little cat actor. He was there.

Apparently there was, I didn't know this at the time.

All I know is there's, we had to have a kitten in the scene

because I wanted to have to have this scene where it's like, you know,

he gives me a ring, I'm like "no". He gives me flowers, I'm like "no".

And then he gives me a kitten and I'm like "yes, absolutely. You know me, clearly."

And so, you know, they show up with this little kitten

and the, his handler was like, "Do you want to hold him first?"

I was like, "Absolutely I do."

And so they hand me this tiny cat and I've never really experienced a cat that,

the second I held this little kitten, he started purring, like a motor.

And I was like, "Okay, whose cat is this? You're really lucky, whoever owns this cat."

And then, the girl was like, "Actually, he doesn't have a home."

And then I just, my eyes turned into hearts--
Ellen: Yes. [audience laughs]

Taylor: And I, I just immediately was like, "I can't think about anything else."

Ellen: And so, how do the other two get along?

You can't just bring a cat home. Cats don't, they're not like that.

Taylor: They're like little puffballs getting into fights,

like marshmallows throwing each other. [audience laughs]

Ellen: Oh. That's good then. And his name is Benjamin?

Taylor: Benjamin Button.
Ellen: Mhmm. That's right.

Taylor: Because it's an incredible movie.

Ellen: Yes it is.
Taylor: It's an incredible film.

Ellen: He ages backwards.
Taylor: Yeah. [audience laughs]

Ellen: Alright, so, [laughter continues]

we're back with the only person who loves cats possibly as much as I do, or more,

or, but I think, no.
Taylor: I don't want to get into a fight about it.

[audience laughs]
Ellen: No, but--

No, we both love cats. Let's just leave it at that.

Alright. Taylor Swift is who I was talking about.

Um, okay. So there's video of your other two cats, on the plane, I think. Is that what we have?

Taylor: I think it's just a picture, but, it's a good demonstration of like,

just what my personal life looks like.
Ellen: Yep.

Taylor: It's just, well, that's-- oh I mean, that's just Olivia stretching.

Ellen: That's just?

Taylor: That's my middle child.
Ellen: Yep.

Taylor: She's, she's kind of like a seal.

Ellen: And she just lays on her back? Oh my god.

Taylor: Yeah. Isn't she amazing? And her tail just never grew.

Ellen: Oh my god.
Taylor: And then she stands up, here's meerkat.

Ah, get it.
She's a really special animal.

And that was when she was a baby.
Ellen: Oh my god. They're just so cute.

And now, so you would be, and you're doing the movie Cats,

so you probably have a, you know, an advantage,

because you probably act more like--
Taylor: I understand them.

Ellen: Yes.
Taylor Yeah.

Ellen: Because James Cordon had to learn, he went to cat school.

Taylor: We all went to cat school. You have no idea.

It's like all my dreams came true on the set of this film. [audience laughs]

It was like, they literally, um, they're like, "You can come to set as much as you want"

and I ended up being there, like, every day for four months.

Just like, they're like, "Oh, Taylor's doing cat school again." [audience laughs]

"Again. She's still here. She's still doing cat school."

Ellen: What did you learn?

Taylor: Well, you crawl around on the floor and you pretend to be a cat.
[audience laughs]

Ellen: Right. I bet you're really a good cat.

Taylor: I mean, I don't-- we'll see. I really don't know.

I had the most fun. I had the best time.
Ellen: Yeah.

Um, alright. So wait. There's a new album coming out.

Are you finished with the album yet?

Taylor: Yeah. And, unless I like write something else.
Ellen: Okay.

Taylor: Then I'll just like probably put it on the album.

Ellen: Okay. And then you have another video coming out soon.

Taylor: Ish, yeah.

Ellen: When is it coming out?

Taylor: Uh, I don't know yet because we have to finish it first.

Ellen: Okay.
Taylor: Yeah.

Ellen: And then, um, I think you said you wanted me in it?

[audience laughs]
Taylor: Yeah, I mean,

that would be a dream.
Ellen: Yeah.

Taylor: Would you want to do that?

Ellen: Mm, I don't know, but I-- [audience laughs loudly]

I'll think about it, for sure.
Taylor: Okay. Please do.

Ellen: Yeah.
[audience laughs]

Okay.
[audience laughs loudly]

Taylor: Great.

Ellen: Yeah, I'll do it.
Taylor: Cool.

Ellen: Okay. Alright.
Taylor: That's great.

Ellen: Umm... [audience laughs] [Taylor and Ellen laugh]

Alright, we have to take a break and then,

we're going to come back and she's going to talk all about her boyfriend.

We'll be back.

What I'll do is I'll read a question

and then you will answer the question and then, [bell dings] hit this for no apparent reason.

Taylor: [bell dings] I love it.
Ellen: It's fun, right? [bell dings]

Taylor: Yeah.
Ellen: Yeah.

It's like a game show, but yet you win nothing. [audience laughs]

What's the title of your next single?

Taylor: Oh. Um, I can't tell you that. That's crazy. [audience laughs]

Ellen: Well, I was gonna try.

Can you sing some of it?
Taylor: Uh, no... [audience laughs] [bell dings]

Ellen: Alright. If you can't sleep in the middle of the night, what do you do?

Taylor: I got downstairs and rummage through the kitchen

and eat whatever I can find. And it's realy less like a human being

and morel like a raccoon in a dumpster. [audience laughs]

Like, the next morning we just, we walk downstairs and we're,

"What happened here?"
And I don't remember. [bell dings]

Ellen: Does that help you sleep, if you eat a whole lot and then..?

Taylor: It's not really voluntary. [bell dings] [audience laughs]

Ellen: Oh, do you sleep eat?

Taylor: I think so. I don't really remember it,

but I know it happens because it could've only have been me, or cats.

Ellen: Right. Well that wasn't the question. We're learning something different.

I said, "If you can't sleep at night, what do you do?"

but it sounds like--
Taylor: I'm still sleeping and doing it?

Ellen: Yes, it sounds like you've got an issue. [audience laughs]

Taylor: Yep. [bell dings] [audience laughs]

Ellen: Okay. Currently, what is your favorite TV show?

Taylor: Oh god, okay. So, Killing Eve, Game of Thrones,

Downton Abbey, Queer Eye, I'll just, got to stop though. [bell dings] Getting too excited.

Ellen: Yeah, Killing Eve is [bell dings repeatedly]
Taylor: Yes!

Ellen: What is the most rebellious thing you did as a teenager?

Taylor: [laughs] Probably when I put Joe Jonas on blast on your show.
[audience laughs]

That was too much! [bell dings]

Ellen: Was it?
Taylor: Yeah. That was too much.

Ellen: Okay.
Taylor: I was 18. Yeah. [audience laughs] [bell dings]

We laugh about it now. That was, mouthy.
Ellen: Yeah.

Taylor: Yeah, just--
Ellen: Alright.

Taylor: Teenage stuff there.

Ellen: Well that's held onto you because I don't remember that at all. [audience laughs loudly]

What is your favorite curse word?

Taylor: Okay, you say yours, and we'll say it together
on one, two, three.

In unison: One, two, three

[BEEP]

[bell dings] [audience cheers]

Ellen: It's just a good, solid one.
[Taylor laughs]

Cause it can also mean like, really good, like,

[BEEP]

Who'd you share your first kiss with?

Taylor: Um, I think- it was my high school boyfriend
when I was fifteen.

Ellen: What was his name?
[bell rings]

Taylor: Drew.
[bell rings]

Ellen: Drew, aww.
Taylor: Yeah

Ellen: Did you leave an easter egg during our interview?

Taylor: Yes.
[bell rings]

Ellen: Really!?
Taylor: Yes! (laughs)

I'm not supposed to do it every word?

Ellen: No. [bell rings]
Taylor: Okay.

Ellen: Your friend invites you to dinner,
what do you bring?

Taylor: White wine.
[bell rings]

Ellen: What kind?
[bell rings]

Taylor: Sancerre Pino Grigio
or Sauvignon Blanc.

[bell rings twice]
Ellen: Good choices.

Taylor: Thank you.

Ellen: I just found a really good one
I'll tell you about. [rings bell]

What's your favorite holiday?

Taylor: I think it's Christmas.
Definitely Christmas. [bell rings]

Ellen: Okay, what's your favorite place to go
on holiday?

Do you like cold, do you like snowing,
do you like island?

Taylor: I'm sorting, I'm sorting.

Ellen: Okay, sorry. I'll stay quiet

Taylor: I'm sorting... I think umm,
Rhode Island.

[rings bell]
Ellen: Okay...

[audience laughs]

Taylor: It's a great state.
Ellen: Yeah.

What's your favorite movie?

That's a tough one.
How do you narrow it down to one?

Taylor: You can't, you can't

Ellen: No, but just -

Taylor: I'd have to go with favorite
movie I've seen in the last week.

Ellen: Okay.

Taylor: Umm, "Someone Great" on Netflix.
[bell rings]

Ellen: Oh, don't know that one.

Taylor: It's a great movie.

Ellen: Oh, well apparently.

Taylor: Watch it!

Ellen: Okay.

Name three words to describe yourself.

Taylor: Um, curious, cat lover,
make it one word?

Ellen: Sure.

Taylor: Um, romantic.

Ellen: Yes. I would say creative also.

Taylor: That's nice, thank you!

Ellen: Okay, um, smart, I would add.

Taylor: Thank you! You're doing five though,
that's so sweet.

Ellen: Yes, because you deserve-
Taylor: You're giving me extra-

[bell rings multiple times]
Ellen: Okay, that's out of time.

Go to my Spotify page to hear more
of Taylor's music! We'll be back!

[audience cheering and applause]