Selena Gomez has long been recognized as Taylor Swift’s closest confidante, but the Only Murders in the Building star recently revealed she has also served as a profound creative muse for the pop icon.
During a recent appearance on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast alongside her partner, Benny Blanco, Gomez validated a long-standing fan theory regarding Swift’s 2020 album, Evermore. She officially confirmed that the track “Dorothea” was written with her in mind, while also teasing the existence of an unreleased “vault” track inspired by their enduring bond.
“Well, ‘Dorothea’ is about me,” Gomez shared. She then delved into the details of another composition titled “Family,” which Swift wrote to chronicle their parallel journeys in the spotlight.
“There’s this song Taylor wrote about us called ‘Family,’” Gomez explained. “It essentially said, ‘You have these massive ambitions, you want to be in films—and in every crowd, I still see you.’ Her perspective in the song was, ‘You believe in my wild dreams, like performing in stadiums.’”
Reflecting on how far they have come since those early lyrics were penned, Gomez added, “Listening to it now, both of those dreams have actually manifested for us. It’s incredibly moving because, at the time, she just told me, ‘I wrote this about us. It’s our story.’ It was the most beautiful gesture.”
When “Dorothea” debuted as part of the Folklore sister-album, Swifties immediately began connecting the dots. The lyrics describe an old friend who found global fame “selling dreams, selling makeup and magazines,” while the narrator can only catch glimpses of them through a “tiny screen.” Given Gomez’s meteoric rise with Rare Beauty and her critically acclaimed film roles in projects like Emilia Perez, the parallels were undeniable.
Gomez noted that her connection to Swift’s discography goes beyond specific lyrics, rooted in a friendship that began when they were 15 and 18 years old, respectively. “We were navigating life-defining moments together—relationships, family, the highs of love, and the sting of public scrutiny,” she remarked. “We’ve never viewed each other through the lens of fame. When I hear her music, I’m always struck by how eloquently she captures our shared experiences.”
The conversation also touched on Swift’s artistic talents outside of music. Gomez recalled the intricate painting Swift created for her 30th birthday, which featured their respective zodiac signs overlooking a serene lake. Blanco admitted he initially mistook the piece for the work of a professional fine artist.
Summarizing their decade-plus journey through the industry, Gomez offered a poignant sentiment: “It’s more about looking back and thinking, ‘Wow, we survived it—as best we could.’”
Watch the full interview with Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco below:
