Get ready for a musical sensation that's taking the world by storm! Taylor Swift's latest album, 'The Life of a Showgirl', has dominated the Billboard charts, and we're here to break down the incredible impact it's had.
Taylor Swift's Reign Continues: A Chart-Topping Phenomenon
On October 13, 2025, history was made as nine songs from Swift's new album secured their place in the top 10 of both the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global Excl. U.S. charts. 'The Fate of Ophelia', the lead single, emerged as the undisputed champion, marking Swift's sixth and fourth No. 1 hit, respectively, since the charts' inception in 2020.
But here's where it gets controversial... On the Global 200, Swift surpasses Ariana Grande, becoming the artist with the most No. 1 hits among women. And on the Global Excl. U.S. chart, she ties Grande and BLACKPINK, an all-female powerhouse group, for the most No. 1s among solo women or all-female groups.
While Swift dominates, HUNTR/X's 'Golden' from the animated Netflix hit 'KPop Demon Hunters' manages to break through, securing the No. 5 spot on the Global 200 and No. 2 on Global Excl. U.S. charts. However, 'The Fate of Ophelia' quickly took over, dethroning 'Golden' after an impressive 12-week reign.
'The Life of a Showgirl', released on October 3, 2025, not only topped the U.S.-based Billboard 200 chart but also shattered records. With the biggest week for an album in terms of equivalent album units and sales since 1991, Swift earned her 15th No. 1 set, surpassing JAY-Z for the most among solo artists in chart history.
On the Billboard Hot 100, 'The Fate of Ophelia' opened at No. 1, becoming Swift's 13th chart-topping hit. But how do these charts work, you might ask? The Billboard Global charts rank songs based on streaming and sales data from over 200 territories worldwide, compiled by Luminate. The Global 200 includes worldwide data, while the Global Excl. U.S. chart focuses on territories outside the United States.
Chart rankings are determined by a weighted formula incorporating official streams on subscription and ad-supported music services, as well as download sales from digital retailers worldwide. 'The Fate of Ophelia' ruled the Global 200 with an impressive 216.9 million streams worldwide in the week ending October 9.
And this is the part most people miss... All tracks from 'The Life of a Showgirl' had no sales counting towards the chart during its first week of release, as they were not available for individual purchase. Despite this, the album's impact was undeniable.
Here's a breakdown of how each song from 'The Life of a Showgirl' fared on the Global 200:
- No. 1, 'The Fate of Ophelia'
- No. 2, 'Opalite'
- No. 3, 'Elizabeth Taylor'
- No. 4, 'Father Figure'
- No. 6, 'Wood'
- No. 7, 'Wi$h Li$t'
- No. 8, 'The Life of a Showgirl' (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
- No. 9, 'Cancelled!'
- No. 10, 'Actually Romantic'
- No. 11, 'Eldest Daughter'
- No. 12, 'Ruin the Friendship'
- No. 13, 'Honey'
On the Global Excl. U.S. chart, 'The Fate of Ophelia' topped with 125.3 million streams beyond the U.S. boundaries. Here's the order of songs from 'The Life of a Showgirl' on this chart:
- No. 1, 'The Fate of Ophelia'
- No. 3, 'Opalite'
- No. 4, 'Elizabeth Taylor'
- No. 5, 'Father Figure'
- No. 6, 'The Life of a Showgirl' (feat. Sabrina Carpenter)
- No. 7, 'Cancelled!'
- No. 8, 'Eldest Daughter'
- No. 9, 'Wi$h Li$t'
- No. 10, 'Wood'
- No. 11, 'Actually Romantic'
- No. 12, 'Ruin the Friendship'
- No. 14, 'Honey'
With this achievement, Swift's total top 10 hits on the Global 200 reach an impressive 42, surpassing Drake's 37. On the Global Excl. U.S. chart, she breaks Bad Bunny's record of 24 with 29 top 10 hits.
Swift's dominance extends to her previous albums as well. She ties her own record for the most concurrent Global 200 top 10s, matching her achievements on May 4, 2024, and November 5, 2022, when 'The Tortured Poets Department' and 'Midnights' debuted. On the Global Excl. U.S. chart, she breaks her own record, surpassing the eight songs from 'Midnights' that made it to the top 10.
Sabrina Carpenter, featured on 'The Life of a Showgirl', adds another feather to her cap with her seventh top 10 on the Global 200 and sixth on Global Excl. U.S. charts.
The Billboard Global charts will update tomorrow, October 14, 2025, on Billboard.com. Stay tuned for more chart news and follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on X and Instagram for all the latest updates.
Luminate, the independent data provider, ensures the integrity of the charts by thoroughly reviewing and authenticating all data submissions. In partnership with Billboard, they remove suspicious or unverifiable data before final chart calculations, ensuring the charts' accuracy.
So, what do you think of Taylor Swift's latest chart-topping success? Is she the undisputed queen of pop, or do you have another artist in mind? Let us know in the comments, and join the discussion!
