Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · July 4, 2025 · Entertainment

Taylor Swift's Year: From Legal Battles to Personal Triumphs

¿Swift is eager to celebrate and unwind, and she is going to have something go down party-wise with Travis (pictured with Swift last month in NYC),¿ an insider said.

TAYLOR SWIFT'S SHOCKING YEAR: FROM LEGAL DRAMA TO CELEBRITY ROMANCE

It's been a whirlwind year for global superstar Taylor Swift, and it seems she's just trying to lay low for now. Last summer, the singer was killing it on her 149-date Eras tour, which drew in a staggering 10 million adoring fans worldwide. But after the grueling tour finally came to an end in December, Swift was looking forward to a much-needed "gap year" with her boyfriend Travis Kelce.

The couple had planned to spend their downtime together, relaxing and recharging after months of non-stop touring. However, their peaceful plans were quickly derailed when Swift's longtime friend Blake Lively got caught up in a messy legal battle with director Justin Baldoni. The drama was so intense that it led to the downfall of Swift and Lively's 10-year friendship.

But after the year she's had, it's little wonder then that Swift has no plans for a big star-studded bash this July 4. (Pictured: One of her famous Fourth of July parties in 2016).

THE BOMBSHELL THAT ROCKED SWIFT'S WORLD

In January, Lively filed a bombshell lawsuit against Baldoni, accusing him of sexual harassment on the set of their film "It Ends With Us". The suit sparked a countersuit from Baldoni, who claimed that Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds were attempting to defame him. Swift was allegedly caught in the crossfire when text messages between Lively and her were leaked as part of the lawsuit.

The situation left Swift feeling "used" and betrayed by her former friend. The singer's reputation took a hit, and she lost one of her closest friends in the process. Kelce even went so far as to unfollow Reynolds on Instagram, indicating just how serious the fallout was between Swift and Lively.

Swift's hopes for a gentle 2025 were quickly dashed as she was dragged headfirst - and unwillingly - into the legal furor surrounding her longtime friend, actress Blake Lively (pictured, center left).

THE BATTLE FOR SWIFT'S MUSIC CATALOGUE

Just as it seemed like things couldn't get any worse for Swift, she made headlines with her dramatic announcement that she had finally regained control of her music catalogue. After a six-year battle to reclaim her rights from record executive Scooter Braun, Swift revealed that she had bought back her original masters, videos, and artwork for a staggering $400 million.

However, the relief was short-lived as Swift soon found herself dealing with another crisis. Last month, she obtained a temporary restraining order against a stalker who allegedly showed up at her home multiple times, including once with a glass bottle that could have been used as a weapon.

The legal drama has reportedly created a rift between Swift (pictured left with Tom Hiddleston) and Lively and Reynolds (pictured center).

A JEWEL-THROWN PARTY TO FORGET

In the midst of all this drama, Swift's fans were eagerly awaiting news about her plans for this year's Fourth of July celebrations. Rumors swirled that she might be dropping new music or even getting engaged to Kelce, but insiders say those whispers are premature.

While Swift is indeed looking forward to celebrating with her loved ones, it won't be the lavish bash fans have come to expect from her in the past. "She doesn't want any photographers or stalkers to know her location," an insider revealed. "With all the recent celebrity break-ins, she's being cautious and wants to keep a low profile."

Lively has attended Swift's Independence Day bashes in past years. (Pictured: Swift's 2016 4th of July party).

The tone for this year's celebrations has shifted dramatically from years past, when Swift would host weekend-long affairs at her Rhode Island estate with A-list guests like Lively and Reynolds in attendance. This time around, Swift is opting for a more subdued celebration that prioritizes her safety above all else.

WAITING FOR THE MOMENT TO POP

So what about the rumors of an engagement between Swift and Kelce? While it's true that the couple is strong and devoted to each other, insiders say they're not ready to take the plunge just yet. "Travis isn't going to ask for her hand in marriage this weekend," a source revealed. "He might pop the question eventually, but it will be when he's done with football season."

According to a source, Swift (pictured third from left) will not be hosting a July 4 party this year.

As Swift navigates these choppy waters, fans can only hope that she'll emerge from them stronger and more resilient than ever before. And who knows? Maybe next Fourth of July will bring the kind of fireworks fans have been waiting for – a new album announcement, perhaps, or even an engagement to her beloved Kelce.

'She doesn't want any photographers or, let's just put it out there, any stalkers to know her location,' our insider said of Swift (pictured right with models Gigi Hadid, center, and Martha Hunt, left).

Since her first bash in 2013, Swift's Independence Day parties, usually thrown in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, have become a key event in the celebrity calendar. (Pictured: Gigi Hadid, left, Cara Delevingne, center, and Swift, right, at her 2016 party).

One year, Ed Sheeran (pictured at an Independence Day party in 2015) serenaded guests.

Staple attendees in years past included Lively and Reynolds, as well as a host of famous female friends, from models Karlie Kloss, Cara Delevingne and Gigi Hadid, to the pop star Haim sisters. (Pictured: Swift, Selena Gomez, and other attendees of a 2023 4th of July party).

'She also doesn't want to make a big deal of a party because she doesn't want to look like she is out of touch,' our source said.

The weekend-long affairs would include raucous games of corn hole, rides on inflatable waterslides in American flag-print swimsuits and long nights of dancing ¿ and singing. (Pictured: Karlie Kloss, left, and Taylor Swift, right, at a 2016 Independence Day bash).