Taylor Swift sued by real-life Las Vegas showgirl over latest chart-topping album

Olivia Gantzer
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:16:37 +0000

Taylor Swift could be facing legal action from a Las Vegas entertainer who claims the pop star's latest album title infringes upon her long-established trademark.

Maren Wade, a cabaret performer and America's Got Talent contestant, filed suit against Ms Swift in March, alleging the singer's twelfth studio record, The Life of a Showgirl, bears too close a resemblance to her own brand, Confessions of a Showgirl.

Ms Wade has held the trademark for her touring cabaret production since 2015, having launched the concept in 2014 as a Las Vegas Weekly column documenting her experiences as a performer.

Ms Swift, 36, released the album in October 2025, with the Grammy winner stating it drew inspiration from her record-breaking Eras Tour and her relationship with NFL player Travis Kelce.

The performer has now escalated her legal battle by requesting an immediate injunction to prevent Ms Swift from selling merchandise connected to the album whilst the case proceeds through the courts.

In her motion filed on Tuesday, Ms Wade argued that her trademark represents her sole professional identity, built over more than a decade without corporate support or alternative branding options.

"If defendants' use continues unchecked, the harm is not merely economic," the filing states.

"It is the progressive erasure of plaintiff's ability to be recognised as the source of her own brand."

Ms Wade's case draws heavily on the US Patent and Trademark Office's preliminary rejection of Swift's attempt to register The Life of a Showgirl as a trademark, citing the likelihood of consumer confusion with Ms Wade's existing mark.

The brand in question has evolved considerably since its inception, growing from Ms Wade's original column into both a podcast and live touring show, all operating under the Confessions of a Showgirl name.

Court documents note the trademark achieved "incontestable status" through years of continuous use, representing the goodwill Wade cultivated through sustained personal effort.

Ms Swift's album, meanwhile, proved enormously successful commercially, shifting 4 million units during its opening week alone.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

ITV I'm A Celebrity fans call for new series to be 'AXED' after South Africa debut

Arlene Phillips shares five-word statement on axed BBC Strictly stars as former judge wades in

Alan Carr accused of 'cultural appropriation' as fans divided by Scottish castle purchase

Ms Wade's legal filing contends that the confusion predicted by federal authorities has now materialised, with consumers using her trademark as a hashtag for Swift's products.

"Eight of ten Google autocomplete results for plaintiff's exact registered mark now redirect to defendants," the motion states, describing the situation as "textbook reverse confusion."

Ms Wade's attorney, Jaymie Parkkinen, told Billboard the matter is "a straightforward trademark matter," adding that they had hoped resolution would follow the USPTO's rejection of Ms Swift's application.

"Instead, defendants continued using the mark without ever contacting us," Parkkinen said.

"When someone is told no by the federal government and keeps going anyway, litigation isn't a choice — it's the only option left."

Ms Wade is pursuing a trial and seeking a permanent ban on Swift's use of the album title in connection with goods or services likely to cause confusion.

She is also demanding all profits generated in relation to the title, along with various damages.

Ms Swift's representatives have not commented on either the lawsuit or the injunction request, which is scheduled for a hearing in Los Angeles federal court in late May.