Selena Gomez just revealed a deeply personal detail about one of Taylor Swift’s songs, giving fans a rare glimpse into the emotional bond the two pop stars have shared for nearly two decades.
During the Tuesday, May 3 episode of Friends Keep Secrets, the podcast hosted by Gomez’s husband, Benny Blanco, alongside Lil Dicky and Kristin Batalucco, the Rare Beauty founder confirmed that Swift’s Evermore track “Dorothea” was written about her.
© Getty Images for MTVSelena Gomez Says Taylor Swift’s “Dorothea” Is About Her
While discussing her longtime friendship with Swift, Gomez casually dropped the revelation that their relationship inspired the reflective song from Swift’s 2020 album Evermore. “Well, Dorothea's about me, one of her songs,” Gomez said.
The singer and actress reflected on how their friendship formed while they were still teenagers as they navigated fame and personal growth. “And I feel like a lot of moments we had were huge moments that were self-defining from relationships to family to love to hate, all of it in between,” Gomez explained. “We were figuring it out because I was 15 and Taylor was 18.”
© GC ImagesAccording to Gomez, the early years of their friendship shaped the way they see each other today. “We didn't really know like what was going on, and so we've never seen each other any differently,” she said.
Listening to the track now gives Gomez a deeper appreciation for Swift’s songwriting. “So when I listen to ‘Dorothea,’ I'm so impressed how it's eloquently put,” she added.
Swift’s lyrics in the song describe a grounded friendship that endures despite fame and distance, including the lines: “But it's never too late to come back to my side” and “And if you're ever tired of bein' known for who you know / You know you'll always know me.”
The Unreleased Taylor Swift Song About Their Friendship
Gomez also revealed another touching detail: Swift once wrote an unreleased song about their friendship called “Family.”
“It was over easily a decade ago,” Gomez said about when Swift wrote the track. While she didn’t quote the lyrics directly, Gomez described the message behind the song.
© GC Images“Insinuating in the lyrics without quoting it, ‘Family’ was basically saying you have these amazing dreams, you want to be in movies,” she explained. “Like, ‘in every crowd I still see you.’”
The song also reflected Swift’s own ambitions at the time. “Then her part was like, ‘You believe in my stupid dreams like playing stadiums,’” Gomez recalled. Now that both of those dreams have become reality, hearing the song feels especially emotional for Gomez. “Now when I listen to that song both of those things have happened for us,” she said, adding that it “makes me want to cry.”
Gomez described the track as “the sweetest thing,” remembering how Swift first shared it with her. “Back then, Taylor was like, ‘I just wrote this song about us,’ and it was just our story,” she said.
Selena Gomez Reflects on 17 Years of Friendship
Looking back at their journey, Gomez says their friendship has survived years of fame, personal changes, and life challenges. “We survived it as best as we could,” she said.
Rather than focusing on success or career milestones, their conversations today revolve around how unusual and meaningful their shared experiences have been.
© Getty Images for MTV“When we talk about it we're not like, ‘Look at this prosperity,’” Gomez explained. “It's more so like, ‘This is so cool that you get it.’” She added that their friendship has endured through everything from heartbreak to major life moments. “It's absolutely unbelievable to come from 17 years of friendship from multiple heartbreaks and love stories and fun stories in life,” Gomez said.
How Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift First Became Friends
Gomez and Swift first met in 2008 during an era that now feels like pop culture history. At the time, both were dating members of the Jonas Brothers. Swift was romantically linked to Joe Jonas, while Gomez was dating Nick Jonas. The relationships eventually ended, but their friendship only grew stronger.
Over the years, the two have consistently supported each other publicly. They’ve appeared together at award shows, shared the stage during concerts, and celebrated major milestones in each other’s lives.
© FilmMagicSwift was also present during some of Gomez’s most important personal moments, including celebrations surrounding Gomez’s relationship and marriage to music producer Benny Blanco.
Nearly two decades later, Gomez says their connection remains rooted in the same understanding they built as teenagers navigating fame together.
And now, with “Dorothea” confirmed as a tribute to their bond, fans have a new reason to revisit the song that quietly captured one of pop culture’s longest-lasting friendships.
