What does 'Opalite' mean? Hidden Travis Kelce reference in Taylor Swift's new song explained
Travis Kelce revealed on New Heights that Taylor Swift’s “Opalite” is his favorite, calling it poetic and fun, possibly referencing his opal birthstone.
‘Opalite,’ the third track in Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl', has caught a lot of lot of Swifties' attention over the unusual choice of title. Starting off with, "I had a bad habit/ Of missing lovers past," the song evidently talks about eventually finding the right person after a series of hard separations. But why is it called 'Opalite?'
As for the word's literal meaning, Opalite is a man-made glass that mimics the appearance of natural opal, i.e. luminesces. However, for Taylor Swift, the song has a different, more symbolic meaning, and it has to do with Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs superstar to whom she recently got engaged, with a wedding also on the line.
Travis Kelce Link With 'Opalite': Explained
Recently, Travis Kelce revealed to his brother Jason Kelce's on their 'New Heights' podcast that 'Opalite' is his favorite track from Swift's upcoming album. He said he finds the lyrics "poetic" and he had been "dancing throughout the house" listening to it.
"I keep listening to this album, and I know she mentioned that it's going to be a lot of more pop beats and everything," Travis Kelce said. "It's still so poetic in her melodies and references and stuff. It's just so fun to listen to, I've been dancing throughout the house."
Also read: Taylor Swift vs Charli XCX: Why Swifties think 'coke' jibe in The Life of a Showgirl is a diss
However, the title of the song relates to Kelce in a deeply symbolic way. Many say that by ‘Opalite,’ Swift is referencing Travis Kelce's birthstone - opal. Or, in other words, she is likely referring to Kelce as someone carrying the qualities commonly associated with opals, such as clarity, mystery, or ethereal beauty, inspired by the stone’s luminous appearance.
The Life of a Showgirl, Swift's 12th studio album containing 12 tracks, was officially released on October 3, 2025, at midnight Eastern Time. It is now available to stream on all major streaming platforms.
