Taylor Swift Builds 'Reputation' At Jingle Balls

Written by Brody Duggson

Taylor Swift photo courtesy of HollywoodLife.com 

On Dec. 1, Taylor Swift returned to the stage for the first time in ten months.  She was the headlining act at the KIIS FM’s iHeartRadio Jingle Ball 2017 in Los Angeles.

Eight days later, she fulfilled the same role at a similar event in New York City, although that iHeartRadio ball was produced by Z100.  Then, the next night, she participated in the Capital FM Jingle Bell Ball in London.

The three mini-concerts foreshadow the superstar’s upcoming concert trek.  “Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour” kicks off May 8, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona.  The singer will then visit Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Atlanta as well as several other cities in North America.

As of now, her final U.S. date is Oct. 8 in Arlington, Texas.  She’ll finish her tour with five stops in Australia and New Zealand.

Swift is hitting the road to support her sixth studio album, Reputation. The album dropped on Nov. 10 and sold two million copies during its first week of release.

All three Jingle Ball performances were punctuated by the singer’s high energy, a cadre of backup dancers, and fashion-forward outfits.

There are absolutely no traces of the singer’s country roots.  She’s the world’s biggest pop star and a full-on force of nature who’s in the prime of her career.

Swift’s setlist included “Shake It Off,” “I Don't Want to Live Forever," “Ready For It,” and "Look What You Made Me Do."  

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift perform "End Game." Photo courtesy of Variety.com 

The highlight of her L.A. appearance was her duet with pal Ed Sheeran.  It was the first time the superstars had ever performed “End Game” live.  Swift and Sheeran must have enjoyed their performance because they repeated it in The City That Never Sleeps.

Actress Katie Holmes, and her daughter Siri Cruise, introduced Swift prior to her Big Apple shindig.

Another visitor of note was Joe Alwyn, Swift’s current boyfriend.  In London, attendees saw them steal a kiss during Sheeran’s performance.  In Metropolis, after the ball, the couple was seen holding hands.

Mother Nature got in on the act in London.  We’ll have Taylor Swift explain:

“Guys, it snowed today!  That is all I’ve been talking about today is the fact that it snowed today on the morning of Jingle Bell Ball. It’s so perfect!”

While Swift’s music, performances, and life reveal consistent maturity, the previous quote reminds us that she’s still a down-to-Earth girl From Reading, Pennsylvania. 

Regardless of how many diva-like and artistic elements she adds to her repertoire, the performer can always charm our socks off.