Taylor Swift opens up about why one of the most emotional and fan-favorite moments of the Eras Tour means so much to her.
In episode six of her Disney+ docuseries The end of an erareflects the singer on the nostalgia and personal connection behind the performance 22 every night, reviving a look that longtime fans will instantly recognize.
During the episode, Swift explains that the moment is rooted in the original Red Tour, where the song became closely associated with a playful, carefree image.
“The 22 moment comes from a hat that I wore on the red tour,” says Swift, as footage shows her in a white T-shirt that reads “Not much going on at the moment,” paired with sparkly shorts and a black fedora.
“So I really wanted to bring that moment back, like have a moment with a fan where I actually get close to them.”
That idea comes to life throughout the tour as Swift kneels down, hugs young fans and places the fedora on their heads during the performance.
According to Swift, the child she shares the moment with is never pre-selected by her.
“I’ve had people in the audience scour the crowd for the first few ‘eras’ trying to find a kid who knows every word to the songs and is having the time of their lives at this show,” she explains.
She adds that “that kid is basically like a representative of every kid in that crowd that night.”
Swift also points out how different each interaction can be, depending on the child. Some become shy under the massive spotlight, while others instantly light up.
“It could be a little kid who gets really shy when they suddenly see 60,000 people for the first time,” she says.
“Or it could be, there are kids who kind of blossom under the bright lights and they’re like, ‘Oh my God, I’m a pop star now’.”
For Swift, these brief exchanges are powerful reminders of why she performs.
“Everything is going on around us, and somehow we’re able to just have this moment be completely between us,” she says. “We just meet each other and everyone else kind of disappears for a moment. It just reminds me why I do it.”
The Eras Tour has featured countless versions of this now iconic 22 moment, each one but equally meaningful.
Fans can see more behind-the-scenes insight in the final two episodes of The end of an eranow streaming on Disney+.
