Lana Del Rey Reveals Taylor Swift’s Secret Sauce

Lana Del Rey has spilled the secret to Taylor Swift’s massive success: She works hard to make it all happen.

Del Rey, who collaborated with the singer-songwriter on the track “Snow on the Beach,” spoke with BBC News ahead of Swift’s shows in the U.K. When asked about the secret to Swift’s success, Del Rey put it simply: “She wants it.”

“She’s told me so many times that she wants it more than anyone,” the musician continued. “And how amazing—she’s getting exactly what she wants.”

“She’s driven, and I think it’s really paid off.”

That’s putting it lightly. Swift is a billionaire, one with the distinction of earning that status based on releasing and performing her own art, not through brand tie-ins. She is the star and producer of the highest-grossing concert movie of all time, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, and literally dragged Del Rey along with her onstage when she made yet another piece of history, winning her fourth Album of the Year award at the Grammys in 2024. She’s not only one of the most famous people in the world, she has the power to impact the economy, travel demand, and legislation (the senate record will forever hold one lawmaker saying that “Ticketmaster ought to look in the mirror and say, ‘I’m the problem, it’s me,’”) through her movements and remarks, and a single 2018 Instagram post led to 65,000 new voter registrations in one day.

So, yes, it’s paid off.

Sure, achieving success through dogged hard work and perseverance in service of a long-held goal isn’t quite as weird or fucking beautiful as snow on the beach, but, hey, that’s showbiz for you.