‘The Life of a Showgirl’ singer-songwriter went makeup-free in the studio while creating the pop hit in a new Instagram post
Taylor Swift is giving fans a rare, unfiltered glimpse behind the music. After “Opalite” climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, the global superstar marked the milestone with intimate behind-the-scenes footage straight from the studio.
Swift, 36, shared the intimate photos and videos in an Instagram post on Monday, Feb. 23.
“Just a few Opalite memories to celebrate the Hot 100 #1 you guys just got this song!!” the 14-time Grammy winner began in the caption.
“I can’t even sum up my excitement and I’m so blown away by the love you’ve shown this song and video,” Swift continued, noting that this is only the second time she has had two songs from the same album climb to the No. 1 spot on the Hot 100 chart — with the last album being 2014’s 1989.
“I know that’s a lot of numbers but it all adds up to me being so thankful to the fans who helped make this happen by welcoming this song into your lives with open arms,” the pop star added. “Seriously bouncing off the walls about this!!”
The post began with a makeup-free video of Swift in the studio with producer Max Martin working on “Opalite” as she sports her natural blonde curls. Other videos show Swift on the set of the music video, including her brown wig and 1980s-inspired costume for the shoot.
“Never in my life have I felt so myself,” she said in the costume video, adding, “This is actually who I was meant to be.”
In other photos and videos, Swift records vocals for “Opalite” and celebrates with Martin, 54, and Shellback, who also produced her 12th studio album.
Taylor Swift’s ‘Opalite’ Behind The Scenes Photos
Swift, who wrote and directed the visual of the “Opalite” music video, shared in an Instagram post announcing how the idea “crash landed into [her] imagination” while promoting her The Life of a Showgirl on Graham Norton’s talk show back in October 2025.
“I remember thinking I got ridiculously lucky with the group I was paired with,” the singer-songwriter explained, calling out the group of actors and singers, which included Cillian Murphy, Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith and Lewis Capaldi as people whose work she’s “admired from afar.”
