Taylor Swift announces release of new single "ME!" during NFL draft

Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift announced the release of her new single "ME!" on ABC television's broadcast of the National Football League draft in Nashville on Thursday.

Swift, 29, said the song and its music video will be released at midnight on Friday and will feature Brendon Urie, the lead singer of Panic! at the Disco.

"'ME!' is a song about embracing your individuality and really celebrating it and owning it," she said during an interview with ABC host Robin Roberts.

"With a pop song, we have the ability to get a melody stuck in people's heads and I just want it to be one that makes them feel better about themselves," she said.

Swift began her career as a country singer in Nashville at age 15 before branching out with pop hits such as "Shake It Off" and "Bad Blood."

The NFL held the first round of its annual draft on Thursday. The rest of the seven-round draft will be held at the weekend.

Swift had been hinting on social media about a coming announcement and posting photos of flowers, kittens and jewels, all in a pastel palette.

On Thursday afternoon, Swift surprised hundreds of her fans by joining them at the unveiling of a butterfly wing mural in the Gulch area of the city. "ME!" was written in the centre of the mural as a hint to her evening announcement.

Her last album was 2017's revenge-oriented "Reputation," which included songs such as "Look What You Made Me Do" that took aim at people who had attacked her personally and professionally.

Reuters