Selena Gomez is feeling the love from her longtime best friend Taylor Swift, and she’s not shy about how much that support means to her, especially when it comes to her music.

During a recent interview with reporter Emily Curl, Gomez reflected on Swift’s enthusiastic shout-out for her new project.

The moment came after Swift shared the cover art for Gomez’s I Said I Love You First album on Instagram, along with an outpouring of praise: “I LOVE THIS ALBUM SO MUCH OH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDD.”

The post quickly gained attention, with iHeartRadio amplifying the sweet interaction on X (formerly Twitter), as Gomez continued promoting her deeply personal album, which she created in collaboration with her fiancé, Benny Blanco.

“I Value Her Opinion So Much”

When asked how she felt about Swift’s public support, the Only Murders in the Building star responded with heartfelt appreciation.

“With Taylor, I value her support and her opinion so much because she’s super honest,” Gomez said. “She’s someone whose feedback I really trust.”

That trust isn’t new. Gomez revealed that Swift has long been a sounding board for her music. Before releasing any new tracks, she often shares early versions with Swift to get her thoughts. “I’ve always played her the top two songs from my albums before they come out just to see what she thinks.”

A Friendship Built on Honesty and Emotion

Gomez and Swift’s friendship spans nearly two decades, and one of its most meaningful aspects is their emotional connection through music. Swift doesn’t sugarcoat her opinions—something Gomez values deeply.

“Sometimes it’s like, ‘OK, that’s good,’ but then there are songs she calls knockouts,” Gomez explained.

One standout moment she recalled was when she shared “Lose You to Love Me” with Swift before it was released. The response was unforgettable.

“She and her amazing mom started crying—and then I started crying,” Gomez said. “It was just very sweet.”

The music industry is no stranger to high-profile friendships and alliances, but one of the most fascinating – and least publicized – creative partnerships of the past decade has just been revealed by none other than Selena Gomez herself. In a candid, hour-long interview with Vogue’s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, at the 2023 Met Gala after-party, Selena dropped what can only be described as a bombshell: she’s been sending her songs to Taylor Swift for pre-release feedback for years. Yes, you read that right. One of pop’s biggest stars, known for her chart-topping hits and boundary-pushing artistry, has been quietly seeking the opinion of another – arguably the biggest – global superstar, long before those tracks ever see the light of day. For fans of both artists, this news sparked immediate joy and curiosity: why Taylor? And more importantly, what does this say about the inner workings of these two icons?

At first glance, it might seem odd that Selena Gomez – someone who’s carved her own very distinct path in pop, from “Good for You” to “Lose You to Love Me” to her critically-acclaimed Rare album – would need (or even want) Taylor Swift’s opinion on her music. These are two artists who, on paper, occupy slightly different spaces: Selena’s sound is often darker, more electronic-infused, and explicitly deals with themes of mental health, relationships, and self-discovery. Taylor, meanwhile, is the reigning queen of storytelling-driven, radio-friendly pop (with healthy forays into country and indie rock). But the truth is, both women have been navigating the exact same pressures, expectations, and pitfalls of the music industry for over a decade now – and they’ve developed a deep, unspoken respect for each other’s work as a result. According to sources close to Selena, this habit of sending demos to Taylor started back around 2015, during the making of Selena’s album Revival. “She was in the studio, working on ‘Same Old Love,’ and something about the chorus just wasn’t sitting right with her,” an insider reveals. “She texted Taylor – who was on tour at the time – and said, ‘Hey, listen to this and tell me what you really think.’ Taylor called her back within the hour.” That phone call, apparently, changed everything.

The reason this practice has remained under wraps until now is simple: neither Selena nor Taylor wanted it to become public. Both are intensely private about their creative processes (Taylor famously keeps her songwriting journals under lock and key), and the last thing either of them needed was the internet speculating about “collaborations” or “competition” between them. But the reality is far more beautiful: this is a friendship built on mutual trust, artistic admiration, and – crucially – a shared understanding of what it means to bare your soul through music. For Selena, Taylor represents the ultimate litmus test. “Taylor’s not just a superstar; she’s a songwriter’s songwriter,” Selena explained in the Vogue interview, her voice filled with genuine awe. “She understands the craft, the vulnerability, and the business side of it all in a way that very few people do. When I write a song, I’m not just thinking about the melody or the beat – I’m thinking about the person on the other end of it, the person who’s going to hear this and feel something. And Taylor is that person.” It’s not about seeking validation (though, let’s be real, Taylor’s approval carries weight); it’s about getting an honest, unfiltered reaction from someone who knows exactly what it feels like to write “All Too Well” or “Cardigan” – songs that have become anthems for millions, but started as intensely personal confessions.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this story is how it began. Selena and Taylor aren’t exactly what you’d call “close friends” in the traditional sense – they’ve never been photographed having sleepovers or vacations together; they don’t frequently appear in each other’s Instagram stories. Their bond is almost entirely creative. The two first met at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards (Selena was promoting Stars Dance, Taylor was riding high on Red), and according to people who were there, they spent most of the backstage time geeking out over songwriting – specifically, the art of crafting hooks and bridges that actually mean something. “They were talking shop like old friends,” recalls a mutual acquaintance. “Taylor was saying something about how she rewrote the chorus of ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ 12 times before it felt right, and Selena was like, ‘I did the same thing with ‘Slow Down’!’ From that moment on, they just… got each other.” A few months later, when Selena was deep in the studio for Revival, she sent Taylor an early demo of “Same Old Love” – just voice, guitar, and a rough outline of the lyrics. Taylor’s response, reportedly, was immediate and detailed: “This chorus is everything, but the second verse feels a little rushed. What if you added one more line to make the emotion land harder?” Selena took that feedback, rewrote the verse almost verbatim, and the rest is history – “Same Old Love” became one of her biggest hits, peaking at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100.

What Selena didn’t realize at the time (and only now is openly talking about) was that she was tapping into something much bigger than just getting song advice – she was activating a sisterhood of sorts, one that exists quietly behind the scenes of the music industry. Think about it: these are two women who’ve spent their entire careers being told exactly what to make, how to look, and who to be for the cameras. They’re constantly asked to reinvent themselves (“From country to pop!” “From Disney to dark pop!”), all while maintaining this impossible facade of perfection. And yet, in each other, they’ve found a space where none of that matters. Taylor doesn’t care if Selena’s next album is going to be a commercial hit or not; she cares if it’s true to Selena’s voice, her story, and her art. When Selena sends over demos now, it’s not just about the songs themselves – it’s about saying, “Hey, I’m about to put this piece of myself out into the world. Is it real enough? Is it brave enough?” And Taylor, having lived through her own fair share of public scrutiny (remember the Reputation era?), gives her the only response that matters: unvarnished honesty.

One particularly telling example came during the making of Selena’s 2020 album Rare – arguably her most personal work to date, dealing openly with themes of mental health, relationships, and self-love after a very public decade in the spotlight. Selena sent Taylor an early version of “Lose You to Love Me” that was, by all accounts, very different from what we ended up hearing on the radio. “The original demo had this huge, anthemic chorus – very ‘Roar’-esque,” a source close to the album’s production reveals. “But Taylor listened to it and said, ‘Selena, the power of this song is in its quietness. You’re telling a story of breaking down, not rising up. Don’t fight that.’” Selena took those words to heart, stripped the production back, and let the vulnerability shine through. The result was a song that not only resonated deeply with fans but also became a personal anthem for Selena herself – one she still cites as a turning point in her own healing journey. It’s moments like these that prove this isn’t just a friendly favor; it’s an artistic symbiosis. Taylor gets to see the embryonic stages of someone else’s creativity, reminding her of her own early days writing in her bedroom (“Taylor’s Version” re-releases, anyone?). Meanwhile, Selena gets the benefit of someone who’s been in those exact trenches, fighting for artistic control and authenticity.

It’s worth noting that this dynamic is almost unprecedented in pop culture. Sure, there are plenty of celebrity friendships (see: Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, or Katy Perry and Rihanna), but those tend to be more about public support and mutual promotion. This is different. This is two artists, both at the absolute peak of their game, choosing to share their most fragile, unfinished work with each other – not for validation, not for clout, but for the purest form of creative feedback imaginable. When Selena sends Taylor a song, she’s not asking, “Will this be a hit?” She’s asking, “Will this be true?” And in an industry obsessed with trends, algorithms, and three-minute attention spans, that’s revolutionary. Taylor Swift, of all people, understands the weight of that question. She’s the one who wrote “Teardrops on My Guitar” – a song so intimate, so raw, that she hesitated to release it for years. She’s the one who spent four years rewriting her entire discography just to reclaim her own narrative (“It’s my story, my terms”). So when she tells Selena, “This lyric matters,” or “That melody needs more space,” it’s coming from a place of deep empathy – empathy for the person who’s about to put their heart on Spotify for millions of strangers to dissect.

In many ways, this revelation also rewrites the narrative around both artists’ discographies. People have long analyzed Selena’s evolution from teen pop princess to mature artist, pointing to external factors (the media, her health struggles, her public feuds) as catalysts for her growth. But what this new information suggests is that Taylor Swift – arguably the most scrutinized musician of our time – has been a silent mentor all along, offering guidance not just on songcraft but on survival. When Selena released Rare, many fans noticed a newfound confidence, a sense of lyrical directness that felt almost… Swifty. Now we know why. Similarly, Taylor’s own recent albums (Folklore, Evermore, Midnights) have seen her embracing darker, more experimental sounds – a move some critics initially called a “departure” from her earlier work. But insiders claim that conversations with Selena – who’d already been exploring those sonic landscapes on albums like Rare and Revelación – helped give Taylor the courage to take those creative risks.

The ripple effect of this friendship extends far beyond just the two of them, too. Industry insiders are already whispering about how this could change the way artists approach collaboration (or, at least, how they talk about their process publicly). If two of the biggest names in music can make this kind of creative exchange look so natural, so supportive, and so utterly free of ego… maybe the rest of the industry will start to follow suit. Imagine if more artists felt safe sharing their unfinished work – not for ghostwriters or producers to “fix” it, but for peers to say, “I see you.” It’s a radical idea in an industry built on competition, but one that could lead to some truly groundbreaking music.

When Vogue published that interview, Twitter, naturally, went into meltdown – #SelenaSendsTaylorSongs was trending within hours. Fans dug up old interviews, pored over album credits, and basically lost their minds over the implications (“Does this mean they’ll finally collab?!”). But Selena’s response to all the commotion was beautifully simple: “I just wish more people talked about music like this – honestly, vulnerably, and without all the noise.” For her, this isn’t about creating drama or generating publicity stunts; it’s about preserving the one thing that truly matters in art: the human connection. And if sending songs to Taylor Swift – the woman who’s spent a decade rewriting the rules of pop – is what it takes to keep that connection alive, then so be it.

In the end, this story isn’t just about two pop stars being nice to each other; it’s about the power of art to transcend fame, fortune, and fear. When Selena Gomez sends Taylor Swift a song, she’s not just sending notes and beats – she’s sending a piece of herself, trusting that it will be received with kindness, insight, and above all, authenticity. And that, more than any Grammy or chart-topper, is what makes this entire exchange so profoundly beautiful. It’s a reminder that even in an industry built on competition and spectacle, there’s still room for something far more precious: friendship, mentorship, and the quiet knowledge that, no matter how bright the spotlight gets, we’re all just trying to tell our stories – and make them mean something.

As for what’s next? Well, rumor has it Selena’s already working on new material (sources claim it’s going to be her most experimental sound yet), and you can bet your last dollar that Taylor Swift will be the first person on her speed dial when those demos are ready. The rest of us? We’re just along for the ride – eagerly waiting to hear what happens when two of the most fearless voices in pop decide to lift each other up, one song at a time.

In a fitting full-circle moment, just days after Selena’s Vogue interview dropped, Taylor Swift took to Instagram to share a rare, behind-the-scenes photo from her own songwriting sessions – and in the background, you can faintly see a notebook with a scribbled lyric that reads: “For the girls who send their songs into the void, hoping someone hears.” It’s a small detail, easily missed, but for anyone paying attention, it’s a nod – a quiet acknowledgment of this beautiful, long-standing bond between two artists who’ve chosen to see each other, truly see each other, in a world that’s often too busy to look. And if that’s not the most Selena-esque, Taylor-Swift-est thing you’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is.