Selena Gomez Confirms Taylor Swift’s Song “Dorothea” Is About Her
Selena Gomez revealed that longtime friend Taylor Swift wrote the song “Dorothea” about her, as well as an unreleased song “Family,” which is about their friendship.
Five years after Taylor Swift released her album Evermore, the Rare Beauty founder reflected on their friendship, revealing that she was the muse behind her track “Dorothea.”
“‘Dorothea’ is about me,” she explained on the March 3 episode of her husband Benny Blanco‘s podcast Friends Keep Secrets. “I feel like a lot of huge moments that were self-defining, from relationships to family to love to hate, all of it in between—we were figuring it out because I was 15 and she was 18.”
“We didn’t really know what was going on,” she continued. “We’ve never seen each other any differently. When I listen to it, I’m so impressed by how it’s eloquently put.”
When Taylor dropped her ninth album, fans speculated that the eighth track on the project was about Selena—especially with the nod to Dorothea selling dreams and makeup—though neither confirmed the rumors.

“You know you’ll always know me / Dorothea,” Taylor sang, “You’re a queen sellin’ dreams / Sellin’ makeup and magazines / From you, I’d buy anything / Hey, Dorothea, do you ever stop and think about me?”
When the “Enchanted” singer—whom Selena befriended in 2008 while Taylor was dating Joe Jonas and she was in a relationship with Nick Jonas—released the project, she shared insight into the song and its connection to her next track, “’tis the damn season.”
“Before I knew it, there were 17 tales, some of which are mirrored or intersecting one another,” she explained on X (formerly Twitter) in 2020. “Dorothea, the girl who left her small town to chase down Hollywood dreams—and what happens when she comes back for the holidays and rediscovers an old flame.”
Todd Williamson/CBS via Getty ImagesIt turns out Selena also inspired another song by Taylor, 36, which hadn’t been released.
“There’s this song that Taylor wrote about us and it was called ‘Family,'” she explained to Benny and co-hosts Lil Dicky and Kristin Batalucco. “It was over, easily, a decade ago, insinuating in the lyrics, without quoting, it is basically saying you have these amazing dreams. You want to be in a movie, in every crowd I see you.”
“Then her part was, you believe in my stupid dreams, like playing stadiums,” the 33-year-old noted. “Now, when I listen to those songs, both of those things have happened for us. And that’s really sweet because back then, she was just like, ‘I wrote this song about us and it was just our story,’ and it was the sweetest thing.”
Selena Gomez/InstagramSelena’s bond with Taylor—who is currently engaged to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce—has only strengthened as they got older.
“It’s absolutely unbelievable to come from 17 years of friendship, from multiple heartbreaks and love stories and fun stories in life,” she reflected. “We both ended up, fortunately, being engaged around the same time and that was the coolest part.”
Now, for a closer look at this love between Selena and Taylor, keep reading.
Selena Gomez/InstagramWedding Bliss
Selena Gomez received a hug from Taylor Swift during her 2025 wedding to Benny Blanco.
Todd Williamson/CBS via Getty ImagesGolden Moment
The longtime friends made the whole place shimmer at the 2024 Golden Globes.
Instagram / Selena GomezSummer Selfie
Selena shared this pic with her BFF days after they reunited at the 2023 MTV VMAs.
Instagram / Selena GomezKisses
Taylor gave her bestie a sweet kiss in their selfie.
Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty ImagesVMAs Reunion
The two reunited at the 2023 event.
Instagram / Taylor SwiftFourth of July 2023
The pair celebrated Independence Day together with friends at Taylor’s party.
Instagram / Taylor SwiftIndependence Day Selfie
The two posed for a pic at Taylor’s 2023 party.
Instagram / Selena GomezSelena Turns 30
Selena celebrated her 30th birthday with Taylor, writing on Instagram in 2022, “30, nerdy and worthy.”
Instagram / Selena GomezSelena’s 30th Birthday
Selena later revealed that Taylor gave her a painting she had made to mark the milestone.
“She painted a beautiful lake,” the actress shared on the Friends Keep Secrets podcast in 2026. “It was at night and the moon was there. In the stars, she painted our exact star signs.”
According to Selena, Tayloralso handstitched a message on the painting’s canvas, reading, “Here’s to the next 30 years.”
Christopher Polk/TAS18/Getty Imagesreputation Duet
Reuniting for the “Look What You Made Me Do” singer’s Rose Bowl concert in 2018, the longtime besties serenaded the crowd with Selena’s hit “Hands to Myself.”
Christopher Polk/TAS18/Getty ImagesSharing the Stage
They shared a sweet moment onstage.
InstagramSelfie Sisters
“I’m grateful for those I surround myself with,” Selena captioned this photo the day after the concert. “And this woman right here happens to be one of my favorites. Love our tradition and I love you.”
Jason Merritt/Getty Images for NARASGrammys Dates
The two arrived in style at the 2016 Grammy Awards.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images for NARASHugs!
The BFFs hugged it out on the red carpet.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio / TurnerPower of Three
During the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards, the iconic pair posed with “Starlight” singer Serayah.
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for iHeartRadio / TurnerSo Many Hugs!
The two embraced during the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartRadio / TurneriHeartRadio BFFs
The “Bad Liar” singer gave her bestie a tight hug backstage of the 2016 iHeartRadio Music Awards. That night, Taylor won four awards—Female Artist, Tour, Meme-able Moment and Album—and Selena won Triple Threat.
Christopher Polk/TAS/Getty Images for TAS1989 Tour Fun
The two performed onstage during Swift’s 1989 tour show in Los Angeles on Aug. 26, 2015.
Steve Granitz/WireImageVMAs Dates
They also hit up the 2015 MTV VMAs.
InstagramGirl Group
“Happy birthday my nugget. #girlsnighttothefullest,” wrote the “Wolves” singer on Instagram for Camila Cabello‘s special day.
InstagramBirthday Bash
In celebration of Camila ‘s 18th birthday in 2015, the “Havana” singer surrounded herself with famous friends, including the “Delicate” pop star, the “Back to You” singer, Jaime King, Hailee Steinfeld, Sarah Hyland, Joey King, Hayley Williams and the Haim sisters.
Christopher Polk/AMA2014/Getty Images for DCPMore AMAs Love
Selena and Taylor hung out at the 2014 American Music Awards.
TwitterMermaid Style
They know they both got it.
InstagramMet Gala Besties
The two hung out at the 2014 Met Gala, as seen in this Instagram video.
Jeff Kravitz/AMA2011/FilmMagicBack in the Day…
Taylena joined Nicki Minaj and Katy Perry at the 2011 American Music Awards.
InstagramOut of the Woods
Are they out of the woods yet? In a funny Instagram post, the besties posed in major greenery and joke about Taylor’s 2016 hit.
Kevin Winter/AMA2011/Getty Images for AMAGoofy Gals
At the 2011 American Music Awards, the stars had some fun and made their 3D glasses and neon sticks look glamorous.
Christopher Polk/AMA2011AMAs Love
The singers hung out at the 2011 American Music Awards.
Todd Williamson/WireImageCinderella Story
Taylena looked adorable at the premiere of Another Cinderella Story in 2008.