Miami — Fans at Hard Rock Stadium were in for a major surprise when Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence + The Machine, joined Taylor Swift on stage for a mesmerizing performance of their new duet, “Florida!!!”
The crowd erupted in screams as Welch made her entrance during the second verse of “Tortured Poets” (Track 8). Having first debuted the song at Wembley Stadium in London on August 20, Welch’s return had fans buzzing with excitement, speculating that this haunting track could become a permanent fixture in the tour’s set list. Not only were new stage graphics created, but Swift’s dancers also learned an entirely new choreography for the performance.
As the eerie melody about escaping to Destin, Florida, played out between “So High School” and “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?,” Welch and Swift rose together on the center platform. The two stars delivered the powerful line, “So I did my best to lay to rest / All of the bodies that have ever been on my body,” while a swampy green animation filled the massive screen behind them. Swift’s dancers struck twisted, tree-like poses, adding to the moody, atmospheric vibe.
The electrifying moment came to a close with Welch and Swift walking down the catwalk together, belting out the final line, “Florida!!! Go on, (expletive) me up,” as the crowd’s roar echoed through the open-roofed stadium.
Swift expressed her gratitude to Welch with a heartfelt thank you, leaving fans wondering if Welch would return for the next shows in Miami or perhaps even the remaining dates of the Eras Tour. With four more cities to go — New Orleans, Indianapolis, Toronto, and Vancouver — fans are eagerly waiting to see if this electrifying collaboration will make more appearances before the tour wraps up on December 8.