Las Vegas Performer Sues Taylor Swift Over 'The Life of a Showgirl'

Maren Wade alleges trademark infringement over Swift's 2025 album title.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:49pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of shimmering, glittery sequins in dramatic studio lighting, conceptually representing the glamour and high-stakes competition of the music industry.A lawsuit over a pop star's album title exposes the cutthroat competition and intellectual property battles in the music industry.

Las Vegas performer Maren Wade is suing pop icon Taylor Swift over the singer's 2025 studio album 'The Life of a Showgirl,' alleging trademark infringement. CNN has reached out to Universal Music Group, also a defendant, for comment from Swift and the company but has not heard back.

Why it matters

This lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between artists and performers over intellectual property rights, especially as pop culture references and titles become more ubiquitous. The outcome could set a precedent for how courts view trademark claims in the music industry.

The details

Maren Wade, a Las Vegas-based performer, claims that Swift's album title 'The Life of a Showgirl' infringes on her own long-running Las Vegas revue of the same name. Wade alleges that she has been performing under the 'Showgirl' brand for over a decade, building a loyal local following.

  • Maren Wade has been performing her 'Showgirl' revue in Las Vegas since 2012.
  • Taylor Swift released her album 'The Life of a Showgirl' in 2025.

The players

Maren Wade

A Las Vegas-based performer who has been running a long-running revue called 'The Life of a Showgirl' since 2012.

Taylor Swift

A popular American singer-songwriter who released the album 'The Life of a Showgirl' in 2025, which is the subject of the lawsuit.

Universal Music Group

The record label that released Taylor Swift's album 'The Life of a Showgirl' and is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“I've built my brand and my show around 'The Life of a Showgirl' for over a decade. I can't just sit back and let someone else profit off of my hard work.”

— Maren Wade, Las Vegas Performer

What’s next

The lawsuit is currently in the early stages, with a court date yet to be set. Both sides are expected to argue their case over the trademark and intellectual property rights to the 'Showgirl' name and concept.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges artists and performers face in protecting their creative work and intellectual property, especially as pop culture references become more widespread. The outcome could set an important precedent for how courts view trademark claims in the music industry.