Don’t have a cruel summer, Swifties — there may be more Taylor Swift songs to come in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3.
TSITP creator Jenny Han played coy when asked why the new season of the Amazon Prime Video series has only had one song by Swift, 35, so far in an interview with Variety published Thursday, August 7. However, she teased that fans should stay tuned, hinting at more from the “Karma” singer’s discography in future episodes.
“I think I’ll say, I guess … keep watching,” Han, 44, told the outlet.
Viewers heard Swift’s 2022 track “You’re Losing Me” in the premiere episode, which dropped on July 16. In the scene, Belly (Lola Tung) found out that her boyfriend of four years, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno), had cheated on her in Mexico.
Did ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’ Use Taylor Swift to Confirm Who Belly Chooses?
Swift’s songs have been a staple during pivotal moments throughout the series (more than a dozen songs were used in seasons 1 and 2 combined). So, many fans have wondered why the first five episodes of season 3 have been lacking in Swiftie needle drops. Some theorized that the pop star’s music represented Belly’s inner monologue, which hasn’t been present as much in season 3.
However, the trailer for season 3 featured Swift’s songs “Red” and “Daylight,” hinting that fans might hear those tunes in future scenes.
Han previously addressed how the show’s fanbase has influenced its soundtrack.
“I think for me just as a fan, to be able to give the book fans that moment is what is really meaningful to me, because if you’re a fan of The Summer I Turned Pretty, I’m pretty sure you’re a fan of Taylor Swift,” she told The Wrap in 2022. “And I know this because so many fans have asked me to put her music on the show and I just never knew if we were going to be able to or not. So when we were, I just, I couldn’t believe it. That’s probably the most excited I’ve been in the whole process and the fact that we got like five total, which I’m really excited for the fans to see, because it will be like, I think maybe unexpected at times at certain big moments.”
TSITP season 2 even featured a never-before-heard re-recording of Swift’s “Delicate,” originally from her 2017 Reputation album.
“It was a secret, even within Amazon,” Han told The Los Angeles Times in 2023. “It was such a gift to be able to get it, and I am so appreciative and respectful of the show’s relationship with Taylor Swift.”
Han also spoke about her thought process when choosing Swift songs.
Which Swift Song Was Almost Used in Season 3 of ‘Summer I Turned Pretty’?
“Many fans feel betrayed,” she said, addressing viewer reactions to “Delicate” being used for a scene between Belly and Jeremiah (Swift has typically been used for scenes between Belly and Conrad, her other love interest). “However, I never said that Taylor was only for Belly and Conrad. ‘Delicate’ is speaking to where Belly’s head and heart are at in that moment.”
Han added, “When I use ‘Snow on the Beach’ later in the season, it’s haunting because it’s taking you back to that [flashback] moment. It’s almost like a painful memory, in a way.”
New episodes of TSITP drop on Amazon Prime Video every Wednesday at 3 a.m. ET, with the finale streaming on September 17.
