Taylor Swift may have been nominated for six awards at the 2025 American Music Awards, but her absence from the star-studded ceremony left fans stunned, and the internet swirling with speculation.
Despite being up for major honors, including Artist of the Year and Album of the Year for The Tortured Poets Department, Swift was nowhere to be seen on Sunday night. With no appearance, no performance, and no virtual message, the AMAs went on without one of the biggest names in music.
Swifties Expected a Big Reveal
In the days leading up to the show, Swifties were on full alert.
As we reported earlier, fans had uncovered a trail of possible Easter eggs, including a mysterious “AMAs” section that appeared on Taylor’s official merch store (Apparel, Music, Accessories, Sale) and a 26% discount on 12 items. To Swifties, those weren’t coincidences: 12 for her rumored 12th album (TS12), 26 for the May 26 AMA date.
Taylor Nation also reposted a fan urging people to vote for her with the caption:
“And our people, it looks so small from up here.”
Fans quickly noticed the capitalized letters spelled out AMAs, and the post used her song thanK you aIMee, adding fuel to the fire. With a snippet of Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version) having just appeared in The Handmaid’s Tale, it felt like all signs pointed to a big moment.
But as the show wrapped with no surprise performance or cryptic teaser, fans took to social media with a mix of humor, confusion, and disappointment, reprocessing all the clues and asking: was this a misdirect, or is something still coming?
Why Wasn’t She There?
With no official statement from Swift or her team, theories about her absence quickly took hold.
Some believe she may be planning a surprise post-show drop, or simply prefers to make her next move on her own terms, away from the traditional awards circuit.
Others have pointed to recent headlines involving Swift, including her unwanted involvement in the ongoing legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Though the situation had nothing to do with Swift’s music, it brought renewed media attention she didn’t ask for, and may have contributed to her decision to stay out of the spotlight.
Some fans also think she’s simply prioritizing personal time. Swift has been spotted frequently with boyfriend Travis Kelce, and the two were recently nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award. From cheering at NFL games to quiet getaways in Florida, Swift may be choosing calm over chaos, at least for now.
Adding to the buzz are persistent rumors of a possible engagement between Swift and Kelce, though there’s been no official confirmation.
The Reputation Theory Lives On
Whether or not the AMAs were part of a grand rollout, Reputation (Taylor’s Version) remains at the center of fan obsession.
The original 2017 album marked one of the boldest pivots in Swift’s career, filled with snakes, shadows, and lyrical clapbacks. Fans have tracked every accessory, stage outfit, and color palette since, hoping to decode the drop date of the next Taylor’s Version release.
Recently, Swift wore a snake necklace to another award show, reigniting speculation. Theories have only grown louder since the Handmaid’s Tale teaser, and even in silence, Swift seems to be saying something.
Silence as Strategy?
This wouldn’t be the first time Swift played the long game.
She’s known for midnight album drops, coded Instagram captions, and layered metaphors hidden in plain sight. If she’s skipping awards shows, it might not be an absence, it might be a setup.
Because when Swift does make her next move, it probably won’t just be a release.
It’ll be a moment.
