Taylor Swift forces Robbie Williams to delay new album

Robbie Williams, best known for being one of Britain’s most successful and charismatic pop stars, has made a surprising confession about global sensation Taylor Swift.

The 50-year-old hitmaker admitted he decided to delay the release of his new album BRITPOP because he “can’t compete” with the Shake It Off singer’s chart power.

The Angels singer had originally planned to drop his album on October 10, just a week after Taylor’s highly anticipated The Life of a Showgirl, but has now pushed it back to February 2026.

Notably, the 35-year-old pop icon's latest record has become a record-breaking global phenomenon, smashing sales and streaming records within days of its release. 

The 15th studio album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making her the solo artist with the most chart-topping albums in history, surpassing Drake and Jay-Z.

Speaking during an intimate gig at London’s Dingwalls, Robbie told fans: “We’re all pretending it’s not about Taylor Swift, but it f****** is. You can’t compete with that.”

He went on to explain that he’s aiming for his 16th Number One album and didn’t want to risk missing out on the top spot.

A source later told The Sun’s Bizarre column that Robbie’s decision was strategic, saying: “Robbie will make history if he scores another No1, and he’s not taking any chances. Taylor’s first-week sales will eclipse everyone else.”

The Feel crooner joked about feeling guilty for making fans wait, but admitted with a grin: “F*** it! I want a 16th Number One album. I’m being selfish.”

What was Robbie Williams’s last album?

Robbie Williams’s most recent release was the Better Man in December 2024, which marked his 15th UK Number One album. 

The soundtrack accompanied the biopic Better Man, based on his own life and career, and featured both new recordings and reimagined versions of his classic hits. 

Before that, Robbie celebrated 25 years as a solo artist with the 2022 album XXV, a compilation of his biggest songs re-recorded with orchestral arrangements by the Metropole Orkest. 

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