Taylor Swift has revealed the emotional turmoil she faced when her backup singer Jeslyn Gorman was diagnosed with breast cancer during the record-breaking Eras Tour.
In the third episode of her End of an Era docuseries, released Friday on Disney+, the 36-year-old pop superstar described being “in shambles” upon hearing the devastating news. “It’s the not knowing,” Swift said, calling the blow “unfathomable” and adding that she will “never forget” that moment.
Gorman reflected on the encounter, recalling how Swift “stormed in with hugs and crying,” telling her, “I’m so sorry.” Gorman’s mother, Andrea Swift, also offered comfort, advising her daughter to focus on herself while promising support.
The singer endured six months of chemotherapy, surgery, and skin complications. “I usually have all this curly hair. I lost 75 percent of my hair. I felt and looked completely different,” Gorman shared. Despite the challenges, she asked her doctor when she could return to the tour and was told she could be back “the night” she finished radiation — though she needed to regain her strength first.
“She literally finished radiation and got on a plane,” another backup dancer recalled in a confessional. Swift added, “I cannot believe she was back in a few months. The will to come back and do the hardest show ever — none of us could believe it. I still can’t.”
The episode captures the deep bond between Swift and her touring family, with the singer praising Gorman as “one of the most talented, resilient people I’ve ever been around.” Footage shows Gorman returning to the stage with ponytail extensions, sharing backstage admiration for Swift: “You like to shed light on people and make them feel bigger than they think they are. It’s never a ‘me,’ it’s always a ‘we.’”
Elsewhere, the episode offers glimpses into Swift’s intense workout routine, the addition of a second Reputation catsuit for her shows, and the beginnings of her romance with NFL star Travis Kelce. Swift called Kelce her “right fit,” while Andrea Swift revealed she had been a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs player from the start and encouraged her daughter to explore the relationship.
Four episodes of End of an Era are now streaming on Disney+, with the final two set to premiere on December 23.
