Taylor Swift is opening up about one of the most emotional moments she faced during the Eras Tour, learning that her backup singer Jeslyn Gorman had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
In the third episode of End of an era In the docuseries, released Friday, Swift shared how deeply the news affected her while she was on the road.
The singer described herself as emotionally overwhelmed at the time and said she would “never forget” the moment she found out.
“It’s the not knowing,” Swift said, reflecting on the fear she felt, adding that the “hit…unfathomable.”
Gorman also revisited that moment from the episode, recalling Swift’s immediate and heartfelt response.
“When I let Taylor know, she came in furious with hugs, crying and just, ‘I’m so sorry,’” he said.
Gorman added that Swift’s mother, Andrea Swift, reassured her, telling her, “‘Take care of yourself and we’ll be here when we’re ready.'”
For the next six months, Gorman stepped away from the record-breaking tour to focus on treatment, undergoing chemotherapy, surgery, and dealing with difficult skin issues.
She spoke candidly about the physical changes she experienced, sharing, “I normally have all this curly hair. I lost 75 percent of my hair. I felt and looked completely different.”
Despite everything, Gorman remained determined to return.
After asking his doctor when he could rejoin the tour, he was told he could return “the night” the radiation was over, as long as he worked to regain his strength.
Another backup dancer confirmed in the docu-series: “She literally finished the radiation and got on a plane.”
Swift expressed disbelief and admiration for his colleague’s strength.
“I can’t believe he’s back in a few months,” she said. “The willingness to come back and do the hardest show ever…none of us could believe it. I still can’t.”
The singer also spoke warmly about the close bond within her touring team, calling them a “professional family” who support each other through life’s ups and downs.
He singled out Gorman in particular, saying, “There are people I just met at this stage of my life. Jeslyn is one of the most talented and resilient people I’ve ever met.”
One of Gorman’s first shows was captured in the episode, showing her performing with ponytail extensions and then praising Swift backstage.
“You like to shine a light on people and make them feel bigger than they think,” he told Swift. “It’s never an ‘I’, it’s always a ‘we’.”
