Taylor Swift Reveals ‘The Tortured Poets Department’s First Single & Drops Fan Challenge

We’re no longer a fortnight away from the release of The Tortured Poets Department, which means it’s the perfect time for Taylor Swift to confirm the set’s lead single. The pop superstar revealed Thursday (April 18) on Instagram that the Post Malone-assisted “Fortnight” will serve as the lead single from her forthcoming album.

“The first single from The Tortured Poets Department is…………. Fortnight featuring [Post Malone],” Swift wrote in the caption of a post that appears to be the single’s cover art. “I’ve been such a huge fan of Post because of the writer he is, his musical experimentation and those melodies he creates that just stick in your head forever. I got to witness that magic come to life firsthand when we worked together on Fortnight.”

In the photo, which follows the same grayscale aesthetic as the rest of the Tortured Poets Department promotional images, Swift poses with her cheek resting on a closed fist, while Posty gazes into the camera with hands clasped.

“Fortnight” is one of two collaborations on The Tortured Poets Department. Grammy-nominated alt-rock act Florence + the Machine appears on the album’s eighth track, “Florida!!!” The new single also marks the first collaboration between Swift and Malone. No stranger to collaborating with pop’s biggest icons, Malone recently appeared on “Levii’s Jeans” — which debuted and peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 — from Beyoncé‘s Billboard 200-topping Cowboy Carter LP.

At the end of her caption, Swift also revealed that she “honestly can’t wait” for the world to see the official music video for “Fortnight” on Friday, April 19, at 8 p.m. ET. Swift also shared the post to her Instagram Story, attaching a link that directs fans to her official webstore, where they can purchase an exclusive “Fortnight” CD single until April 18 at 8 p.m. ET, while supplies last.

On the same site page, Swift also embedded a new YouTube Short announcing a mysterious “For a Fortnight Challenge,” which has left fans both excited and perplexed. “I really need to know what the challenge is,” wrote one user. “I can’t take the suspense any more. Consider this poet well & truly tortured!”

The Tortured Poets Department arrives on all digital streaming platforms at midnight (April 19).

Check out Taylor’s lead single and challenge announcements below.

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