Taylor Swift marked Independence Day with a belated celebration, posting photos from a festive 4th of July gathering at her Rhode Island waterfront home. The Instagram post featured Swift and her friends—Selena Gomez, Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim, Ashley Avignone, and Sydney Ness—enjoying the summer day in bathing suits, with Swift playfully captioning the photo: “Happy belated Independence Day from your local neighborhood independent girlies,” a nod to their single status.

Este Haim echoed the sentiment on her Instagram Story, commenting, “single summer never looked so good,” alongside the same group photo. Swift also shared a series of Polaroid snapshots showing the group in various candid moments—hanging out in the kitchen, hugging, singing, and enjoying patriotic popsicles.

Throughout the day, Swift changed outfits several times: from a bikini for the group shot, to a yellow sundress and a patterned off-the-shoulder dress in the Polaroids. Gomez also shared a solo image on Instagram’s new Threads app, showing herself with sunglasses and a daisy in her mouth.

The 4th of July celebration coincided with the release of Swift’s re-recorded album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). In a reflective Instagram post, Swift discussed the process of selecting which previously unreleased tracks to include. She admitted having to make tough choices, leaving behind some tracks she still cherishes. The new version includes six tracks from the vault—“Electric Touch,” “When Emma Falls in Love,” “I Can See You,” “Castles Crumbling,” “Foolish One,” and “Timeless”—which are added to the original 16 songs of the album.

Swift described Speak Now as a personal reflection of her experiences between ages 18 and 20, highlighting the effort she put into crafting the album’s narrative. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to revisit and reclaim her work, sharing a nostalgic image of herself surrounded by pink blossoms.

In closing, Swift thanked her fans for their support and the memories that have helped her through various challenges, underscoring her appreciation for their unwavering loyalty.