Here's Why Fans Think Taylor Swift is Teasing a New ‘Taylor's Version’ of ‘Tim McGraw’

Taylor Swift might have just treated us to the unexpected music video for ’Elizabeth Taylor’, but our attention is already turning towards a potential ‘Taylor's Version’ of her iconic 2006 country-leaning single, ‘Tim McGraw’. There's a fan-theory circulating that the reimagined track might be dropping in mid-June this year.

As one Swiftie sleuth highlighted, in the 17th photo in Taylor's recent Instagram carousel taken from the ‘Opalite’ music video, the pop phenom can be seen sat on the floor of a living room, with papers scattered on the floor. At first glance, it simply looks like a still from the music video, but if you look closely, there are pens arranged in front of her to make ‘VI’ - the Roman numeral for ‘six’. Crucially, the pens don't appear in the music video, and this therefore feels like an intentional easter egg. Shout-out to Taylor Gooch for spotting a lot of these clues before anyone.

This has fans thinking that Taylor is hinting at something coming in June 2026 - the sixth month of the year. Also, as Gooch explains in his video breakdown, the photo being the 17th image in the carousel could be a clue that she'll announce the track on Wednesday, June 17th, before then releasing it on Friday, June 19th.

June 19th 100% makes sense for the ‘Tim McGraw (Taylor's Version)’ release date, but we're not sold on June 17th being when the announcement comes. For one, it's Juneteenth, and the timing might feel a little insensitive and just altogether out-of-place.

Additionally, Taylor is being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 11th in New York, and this would seemingly be the perfect place to announce Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version), as an homage to the writing that first introduced her to the world.

Tim McGraw, the song's namesake, is being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame a few months later, on October 18th, so perhaps Taylor might appear at this to surprise McGraw with a special performance of the track. Or maybe they're about to link up for a joint reimagining of the song, following their 2013 collaboration with Keith Urban, ‘Highway Don't Care’. Swift opened for McGraw and Faith Hill in 2007, with Swift and McGraw having since joined forces on-stage to perform ‘Tim McGraw on a couple of occasions as part of Swift's colossal tours.

June 19th, 2026 marks exactly 20 years to the day since Taylor released ‘Tim McGraw’ on June 19th, 2006. This song appeared on the ‘Love Story’ singer-songwriter's debut album, Taylor Swift, which is yet to be given the ‘Taylor's Version’ treatment.

Of course, now that Taylor has officially bought back her masters, there's no need for her to continue releasing ‘Taylor's Version’ re-recordings. But knowing Taylor, we still feel like she'd be tempted to complete the set of ‘Taylor's Version’ releases, for consistency if nothing else - and we certainly wouldn't complain if she does.

And there's more. Circling back to Taylor's ‘Opalite’ photo with the pens, if you look in the background, you'll see a book which is green - the same colour as Taylor's first album era. The book is emblazoned with ‘TV’, seemingly denoting ‘Taylor's Version’.

The flowery yellow wallpaper on the walls of this ’Opalite’ image also has fans talking. It looks a lot like the pattern on the dress Taylor wears on the ‘Tim McGraw’ single artwork.

We'll have to wait and see, of course, whether these fan-theories are merely conjecture, or whether they're the latest example of Taylor sprinkling in elaborate easter eggs, ensuring her fans are the first ones to find out about her major announcements.

Alongside Taylor Swift, Swifties are still waiting for the ‘Cruel Summer’ hitmaker to re-record a ‘Taylor's Version’ of Reputation. If Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version) really is dropping this year, hopefully that means 2027 will bring with it Reputation (Taylor's Version) to complete the set. As Taylor has shown with the sudden release of the ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ visuals, it seems she has plenty in store for us in 2026...

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