Taylor Swift’s “Patient Zero,” released September 25 as the lead single from the deluxe edition *The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore*, opened with record-shattering first-day Spotify numbers exceeding 13.7 million streams, instantly claiming the top spot and setting the 2026 mark for the most-streamed track by a female artist in a single day. The song’s medical-metaphor take on toxic relationships fueled immediate fan engagement and social buzz, while its star-studded video—featuring Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell—premiered at the MTV VMAs on September 27, extending visibility into the tracking week. Co-produced with Max Martin and Shellback, the glossy pop track benefits from Swift’s unmatched streaming infrastructure and loyal fanbase, positioning it for exceptionally high first-week totals amid minimal competition in the immediate post-release window.