Taylor Swift might be one of the few artists on the planet with too many songs to choose from — or simply not enough time to think about them.
While appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Wednesday, Dec. 10, the host challenged her to name her top five songs she’s ever released. It’s a question previously put to icons like Dolly Parton, Elton John, Paul Simon and Bruce Springsteen — all members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For Taylor Swift, induction is widely seen as only a matter of time.
@colbertlateshow Top five @Taylor Swift songs (Taylor’s Version) #Colbert #TaylorSwift ♬ original sound - colbertlateshow
But even she struggled with the task. “This is so much pressure,” she told Colbert, admitting she couldn’t pull a full list together on the spot. She asked for “a little time to get back to” him, saying she needs distance to appreciate her own work and that her favourites are “constantly changing.”
Swift did manage to name one firm choice: the 10-minute version of “All Too Well”, released on Red (Taylor’s Version) in 2021. She also mentioned being “really obsessed with The Life of a Showgirl right now, the whole album,” and highlighted “Mirrorball” from her 2020 album Folklore as another favourite. Beyond that, she admitted she couldn’t commit to the rest of the list just yet, adding, “Given some time, we could do an update at some point.”
Colbert joked that she has “all the time you need between now and May,” referencing his upcoming departure from the CBS airwaves.
Swift’s appearance marked her first return to The Late Show since 2021. Backstage, she filmed a playful TikTok with Colbert, set to the humming intro of her 2008 track “Hey Stephen.” When the camera pulled back, Colbert was revealed beside her, lip-syncing along as Swift grinned and waved at him, mouthing “Hey, Stephen!”
@colbertlateshow Hey Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving, but @Taylor Swift is here. #Colbert #TaylorSwift ♬ original sound - colbertlateshow
