Taylor Swift announces first new song since her wedding

Taylor Swift, the renowned pop sensation, has unveiled her maiden new track since her nuptials to NFL player Travis Kelce in a media frenzy dubbed "America's royal wedding". The song, titled 'Patient Zero', is slated for a Friday release on US Eastern time. The announcement came in classic Swift style early Tuesday morning, with a cryptic countdown clock gracing her website.

Swifties, her ardent fanbase, sprang into action, deciphering her official Instagram bio which altered to "And, baby, that's show business for you," each 'o' replaced with a '0'. The cryptogram's meaning became apparent once the countdown ended, leading Swift's site to unveil three limited-edition CD versions of the new song: a double-sided cover, an acoustic rendition, and a piano version, each priced at $US3.99 ($5.60).

This marks Swift's first musical endeavor since her July wedding to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Her last album, 'The Life of a Showgirl', was launched last October, and she lent vocals for the 'Toy Story 5' soundtrack in June. On Monday, Swift was bestowed the inaugural 'Artist Director Honors' at the MTV VMAs, a record-breaking accolade tying her with Beyoncé for the top spot.

Swift now shares this title with Beyoncé, each boasting 30 nominations. The new accolade honors artists whose work off-stage has revolutionized music videos and elevated visual storytelling. Swift currently holds nine nominations for this year's event, trailing only Madonna with 11. Her anticipated appearance at this year's VMAs could stir further revelations, given Swift's habit of making announcements during her performances.

Last week at the Emmys, Swift participated in a pre-recorded skit, portraying a rookie in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit office. Her co-star, Mariska Hargitay, played Detective Olivia Benson, who found herself in a 'rabbit hole' of clues during the skit, with Swift seemingly alluding to the song's title during the performance.