Taylor Swift reveals she still loves watching Dateline, calling it a way to give her brain a short break.
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Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The artist is such an avid viewer that she revealed the investigative show influenced her while she was writing The Tortured Poets Department.
Taylor Swift has opened up about why Dateline continues to be her comfort watch.
Now 36, the singer has long spoken about her fondness for the NBC investigative program, and she recently confirmed that her enthusiasm for the series hasn’t faded. In a December 10 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Swift discussed how she relaxes when she’s away from work, naming Dateline as one of her favorite ways to unwind.
She explained that because her career revolves around constantly generating ideas, being able to temporarily quiet her mind feels like a luxury—something she achieves by watching the true-crime series.
Swift’s fascination with Dateline extends beyond casual viewing. She revealed that the show directly influenced her creative process while working on her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. One track in particular, “Florida!!!,” featuring Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, draws inspiration from the recurring themes she noticed on the program.
While introducing the album on iHeartRadio, Swift shared that many crime stories she watched followed a similar pattern: after committing serious offenses, people often flee to Florida in an attempt to start over and disappear into a new identity. That idea shaped the song’s darker narrative.
She added that the desire to escape and reinvent oneself can also mirror the emotional aftermath of heartbreak—the urge to leave the past behind, become someone new, and go somewhere no one knows you. That emotional parallel became the foundation of “Florida!!!.”
Over the years, Swift’s admiration for Dateline has even led to personal connections with members of the show. Dennis Murphy, a correspondent who has been with the series since the 1990s, recalled being invited to Swift’s Reputation tour. He described her as exceptionally kind and said he was surprised when she immediately recognized him backstage.
Murphy also shared a story Swift’s father once told him during the tour. According to Scott Swift, his daughter had called him excitedly after watching several Dateline episodes in one sitting. He noted that Swift had been interested in forensic science since she was young, making her long-standing passion for the show unsurprising.
