Taylor Swift and Sugarland's "Babe" Video Is a Heartbreaking Examination of an Affair
Taylor Swift and Sugarland's "Babe" video tells the story of a 1960s affair, with Taylor playing the other woman.

The full video for Taylor Swift and Sugarland's collaboration "Babe," is here and it will wreck you like the collapsing marriage it focuses on.
On Wednesday, the artists released a trailer for the video that hinted at the storyline—a "perfect" married couple in the 1960s whose marriage is torn apart by an office affair.
"Babe" delivered on the promise of its trailer and then some. In the full video, we see Jennifer Nettles, as the blonde wife, break down (and rise back up) upon the realization that her husband (played by Brandon Routh) is the cheating on her with a woman at work (played by a red-haired Swift). By the end of the video, Swift's cold-hearted Other Woman character is in the same place as Nettles, realizing that she can't trust the man she's been seeing.
Watch the full video below:
Swift wrote the song, which she has said was written during her Red era. She also, apparently, wrote the treatment for the gripping video. Sugarland's Kristian Bush and Nettles talked about Swift's hands-on involvement in developing the video at the CMT Awards on Wednesday.
"She actually reached out to us and said, 'I’ve got a great idea for the video,' and she wrote the treatment," Nettles told People.
"And we looked at it, and said, 'Oh my gosh, this is awesome,'" Bush added.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
And, if the '60s-inspired video gives you major Mad Men vibes, that's understandable (and intentional). According to People, it was shot on the Mad Men set in Los Angeles.
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
Kim Cattrall’s Secret to a Refreshed Morning Gives Her Goosebumps
It's "invigorating."
By Samantha Holender Published
-
Acne Doesn’t Stand a Chance Against the (Somewhat Chaotic) My Morning Routine
Keep the texture and irritation at bay with these editor-vetted items.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
Hailey Bieber’s Just as Obsessed With This ‘90s Hair Accessory As the Rest of Us
The new mom was spotted in this Fashion Week-approved trend while running errands.
By Ariel Baker Published
-
In 'Opus,' Cult Leaders and Pop Stars Are One in the Same
The A24 film's costume and production designers open up about crafting fictional pop icon Moretti’s style and mysterious estate.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
The Melancholic Sound of Success
The artist known as Japanese Breakfast opens up about finding her sound on a new album after experiencing whirlwind success.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
LISA, Doja Cat, and Raye Perform a Glamorous 'James Bond' Tribute at the 2025 Oscars
The Academy Awards are for the pop girls, actually.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Aly & AJ Share What Music Shaped Them—And What's on Their Playlist Now
With their new album 'Silver Deliverer' coming soon, the sister act opens up about their musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year for the First Time Ever at the 2025 Grammys
The superstar—who has the most wins in the award show's history—took home the biggest prize of the night for 'Cowboy Carter.'
By Sadie Bell Published
-
Chappell Roan Wins Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys—And Called Upon Record Labels to Enact Artist Healthcare Reform
The Midwest Princess made a powerful speech while accepting the award for Best New Artist.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Beyoncé Wins Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammys
The superstar is the first Black woman to ever win the honor.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Doechii Wins Best Rap Album at the Grammys and Dedicates the Award to Black Women: "You're Exactly Who You Need to Be"
"The Swamp Princess" is the third female rapper to take home the gramophone.
By Quinci LeGardye Published