I KNEW The Life Of A Showgirl was going to be a massive album.
But Taylor Swift has exceeded all expectations by scoring the fastest-selling album of the year — before it’s even been released.
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Music insiders tell me she has so many pre-orders for physical copies of her 12th album, which will finally come out tomorrow, that it is a dead cert for No1 next Friday.
And along with pre-save data from streaming services Spotify and Apple Music, it will instantly surpass Sam Fender’s record of the biggest single-week sales in 2025, which he set with 107,000 copies for February’s People Watching.
An industry source told me: “The reception from fans has been very impressive because the pre-orders for this album have been absolutely massive. She hasn’t even released a song from the album yet so it’s remarkable.
“No one can compete with her in terms of sales.”
READ MORE ON TAYLOR SWIFT
Spotify has said The Life Of A Showgirl is the most pre-saved album in the streaming service’s history, with more than 5.5million saving it to instantly appear on their accounts tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, Apple Music has said it is her most pre-added album ever, and she is the most “favourited” artist on the service.
In 2022, Taylor shifted 204,500 UK copies of her album Midnights in its first week.
But last year, she blew those sales out of the water when The Tortured Poets Department achieved 270,000 chart units in its first week.
That made it the biggest seven days of sales for an album in the UK for seven years, since her pal Ed Sheeran sold an eye-watering 670,000 copies of Divide in 2017.
There are other records she is breaking, too.
She has become the first solo female artist in American history to have certified album sales in the US of more than 100million, as determined by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Their figures also show her album 1989 is now her biggest-selling album, as it has gone 14-times platinum.
I don’t envy the other artists who have albums out tomorrow. I doubt they’ll get a look in.
Hailey marks another rear
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HAILEY BIEBER put on a flirty display in this yellow negligee – as she missed her wedding anniversary for Paris Fashion Week.
The model posted a string of snaps on Instagram, alongside the caption “bisou”, which means “kiss” in French.
While her husband Justin remained at home in the US, she stayed in Paris on Tuesday, six years since their South Carolina wedding.
The event on in 2019 was attended by friends and family, but they had secretly tied the knot , on September 13 2018.
Perhaps they had already celebrated this year, or maybe the pics were his anniversary gift.
Zara’s stripped off for the main pose
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ZARA LARSSON is on track to score her fourth Top 20 album tomorrow with the release of brilliant new record Midnight Sun.
But the Swedish singer has also been hard at work on clothing and lifestyle brand Main Rose, which she unveiled with this revealing snap of her in a long-sleeved pink leotard.
The Swedish singer, who started the project a year ago, wrote on Instagram: “Building Main Rose is genuinely a lust for me to creatively expand myself.
“To elevate one’s first layer, literally and figuratively, feels like a fun and natural first chapter for me to explore. Afterall, my dream outfit is really just a pair of panties.”
Amal’s looking lawsome
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AMAL CLOONEY stole her husband George’s thunder at his latest movie premiere.
She looked sensational in this designer minidress at the New York launch of comedy drama Jay Kelly.
It remains to be seen whether their twins Alexander and Ella will follow his career path, become a human rights lawyer like Amal, or do something else.
Asked if they had inherited the acting bug, he told E! News: “I don’t know, it’s so hard to tell at eight.
“They’re very funny kids, and they love to get up and sing. But you know, I hope they do exactly what they want to do in life, and that’s all you can hope for.”
On whether they know he’s a big star, George added: “They have some idea. My kid came up to me the other day and said, ‘Papa what’s “famous?” Somebody in my class said you’re famous’. I said, ‘Tell that kid I’m very famous’.”
“They saw Fantastic Mr. Fox. I won’t let them see Batman & Robin, I want them to have respect for me.”
The Becks Factor reaches £73m
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GOLDENBALLS has done it again – enjoying another year of record-breaking profits.
David Beckham’s company racked up revenue of £73.4million, as he goes from “face to founder” with more behind-the-scenes deals than ever.
The latest figures for DRJB Holdings, the umbrella company for his business ventures, show consolidated profits up 24 per cent to £35.1million.
A source said: “David is still an incredibly sought-after face for campaigns, but he has matured into an incredibly impressive and canny businessman, too.
“He really enjoys the boardroom machinations and while he looks as incredible as ever, probably won’t want to be on billboards in his pants for ever.
“Six years after setting up his own brand management operation, he is more hands-on than ever. Right now he’s at a really exciting next stage of evolution, and loves getting involved with new projects.”
This is partly thanks to successful deals with Boss menswear, and a license agreement with Safilo eyewear.
David also branched out into the wellness industry for the first time, with his IM8 supplements.
Other strategic partnerships include deals with speaker makers Bowers & Wilkins, Stella Artois beer and tech firm Shark Ninja.
Meanwhile, the former England captain’s profile has never been higher internationally following his four-part documentary from 2023.
News of his latest commercial success comes ahead of wife Victoria’s own Netflix docu-series, which comes out next week.
I can’t wait to see plenty more Becks on my box.
Stel-Hel Fashion week secret
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STELLA McCARTNEY went to extreme lengths to keep Helen Mirren’s role at Paris Fashion Week show a secret.
The designer secretly enlisted the actress to open her show with a recital of The Beatles classic Come Together.
Helen was driven around the block to give the illusion she had simply arrived to watch the event.
A source said: “It was a full-on military operation. No one knew Helen was taking part.”
Robbie reveals ‘I have Tourette’s’
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ROBBIE WILLIAMS says he has Tourette’s syndrome, but claims his tics are “intrusive” and not verbal.
The neurological condition causes sudden, repetitive and involuntary sounds or movements.
But Robbie, who was previously diagnosed with ADHD, suggested his is different.
He told the I’m ADHD! No You’re Not podcast: “I’ve just realised I have Tourette’s, but they don’t come out. They are intrusive thoughts. I was just walking down the road the other day, and I realised these intrusive thoughts are inside Tourette’s. It just doesn’t come out.
“Not only that, you would think that a stadium full of people professing their love to you would work as (a distraction), but whatever it is, inside me cannot hear it. I cannot take it in.”
Robbie also said he recently took a test to see if he is autistic.
He added: “It turns out I’m not, but I’ve got autistic traits. And it’s around social stuff, it’s about interaction.”
Dua’s in Bruise control
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DUA LIPA has had a lucky escape after accidentally injuring her shoulder while on tour in America.
The New Rules singer was spotted with a deep bruise, leading fans to fear she could have seriously hurt herself.
But I’m told while the mark does look bad, Dua hasn’t been hugely harmed.
More importantly, while she is due to undergo physio to make sure of a full recovery, it also means her US tour can carry on without a hitch.
A source said: “The injury happened while Dua was enjoying some down time from her show.
“It’s been painful but after being checked over by a radiologist, she’s been given the all clear.
“The tour will still be going ahead as planned. It’s just one of those things.”
While it’s no secret Dua loves a holiday and has previously joked about her life being one big vacation, she is also one of the hardest working women in music.
I just hope she is looking after herself too.
BEAT IT
ELECTRONICS giant Beats has added another pair of headphones to its ever- expanding collection.
The tiny Powerbeats Fit are billed as perfect for gym sessions and come in four bold colours, including bright orange and pink.
At least they will be hard to lose.
It’s a Slim volume
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FATBOY SLIM is releasing his first book, with the brilliant title It Ain’t Over . . . ’Til the Fatboy Sings.
It documents his 40 years in showbiz through photos, flyers and stories and is out on October 16.
But fans can also see him at the Theatre Royal in Brighton on October 14 for a Q&A about it.
The DJ, whose real name is Norman Cook, said: “This year I’ll have been in showbiz for 40 years, and to celebrate that we thought we’d create a big book full of stuff which I’ve kept over the years. I’m really excited to appear in one of my favourite venues for something a little different this time.
“It’ll be nice to get up close and personal with the audience in a beautiful setting and to share some of my stories.”
