Taylor Swift's 'Patient Zero' holds at No. 1 for a second week

The Encore album, which includes four new songs, just earned her a hundredth week atop the Billboard 200; the outbreak is not slowing down.

On air: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on BBN Newsroom
Published 1:40 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Variety: “Taylor Swift’s ‘Patient Zero’ Holds Steady at No. 1 for Second Week on Singles Chart”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 1:40 PM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance.
Topics: Swift, Taylor.
BBN covered this story before: DHS chief, Amazon bath seat recall, Swift's 100th week, Jeffries (October 11).

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

VarietyTaylor Swift’s ‘Patient Zero’ Holds Steady at No. 1 for Second Week on Singles Chart

Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorTaylor Swift holds the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for a second week with Patient Zero, the lead single from The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorPatient Zero is one of four new songs on that album, and the album itself just logged its one hundredth week at number one on the Billboard 200.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorOfficials have not contained it.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorOne hundred weeks! That's a bigger run than anything I've ever been part of, and I once held a parking spot for a whole month.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorTwo weeks at the top for a song with that title, and I am told it is spreading. I covered a cholera summit once that was less persistent.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorGloria, are you saying it's contagious?
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI am saying I hummed it in the elevator, Chip, and I am not proud.
Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Nina has the tech report, and I hear she has already been reading about contagious apps.