Fans wait for the launch of Taylor Swift’s “The Life of a Showgirl” at a Target in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday.
New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after defeating the Boston Red Sox in Game 3.
Target's exclusive “The Life of a Showgirl: The Crowd Is Your King” is a "Summertime Spritz Pink Shimmer Vinyl" featuring an opaque pink and pale-yellow pearlescent vinyl with gold shimmer and a collectible custom gatefold sleeve.

Places, "Showgirls"! I'm Nicole Fallert. I need a feather headress STAT!

Quick look at Friday's news:

  • Taylor Swift's new album "Life of a Showgirl" is here
  • Vaccination coverage is eroding across the country.
  • The MLB playoff bracket is taking shape.

'Showgirl' is a dazzling, orange-dusted pop storm

The curtain came up at midnight! Taylor Swift ushered in 12 tracks on a new pop-infused album "The Life of a Showgirl," with every note shining like rhinestones under a theater marquee.

Lights, camera, showgirls smile: The songs shed light on Swift's relationship with her fiancé, Travis Kelce, and her hopes for their future. She draws inspiration from icons Elizabeth Taylor and George Michael. And she wraps up the show with a duet featuring fellow showgirl Sabrina Carpenter. Follow the album drop LIVE with USA TODAY Taylor Swift Reporter Byran West and read USA TODAY's glittering review of Swift's playful pop.

Sparkles, ready! USA TODAY broke down 'Showgirl' for you:

  • That opening track! Swift rewrites Ophelia's fate.
  • We're "dancing through the lightning strikes" during "Opalite."
  • Swift "protects the family" in "Father Figure."
  • Some fans think Swift calls out Charli XCX in "Actually Romantic."
  • The song "Wood" about Travis Kelce is making us blush.
  • Here's how to watch Swift's movie, "The Official Release Party of a Showgirl."
  • Who are the writers behind "Showgirl"?

What to know before Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sentencing

Sean "Diddy" Combs will return to court Friday to be sentenced, after the jury in his federal sex-crimes trial handed down a split verdict in July, following a case that captured the nation's attention. After being acquitted on the most serious charges − racketeering and sex trafficking − Combs, 55, will await a judge's ruling on Oct. 3 regarding how long he will remain behind bars for his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Here's everything you need to know about Friday's sentencing.

More news to know now

  • President Donald Trump's approval ratings are historically low.
  • Hurricane forecasters spotted two new potential problems.
  • Two North Carolina universities announced a merger. Some alumni push back.
  • These religious leaders are confronting a wave of violence.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Shutdown strain on food lifelines

The federal government enters a third day of shutdown on Friday, and officials say the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, will likely run out of funding within one or two weeks. WIC is a federal nutrition program that provides food, education, and counseling to nearly 7 million at-risk pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, as well as infants and children up to 5 years old. Programs like WIC rely on cooperation between states and the federal government, which, during a shutdown, may not have the personnel or funds to operate. And there's no end to the shutdown in sight.

New vaccination maps reveal outbreak risks

New county-level data compiled from state health agencies show vaccination rates across the country are dipping at the same time measles cases are surging. A USA TODAY analysis, including this data, covering counties in 41 states, showed that routine vaccine coverage among children has slipped in most counties, leaving more communities vulnerable today than before the pandemic. Experts told USA TODAY that measles outbreaks are a public health warning, signaling that other diseases could follow. Search your county to see vaccination coverage among children.

Today's talkers

  • Kylie Kelce got emotional recalling a miscarriage.
  • Going to Paris? The Eiffel Tower is closed.
  • Hayley Williams' "racist country singer" lyric is aimed at Morgan Wallen.
  • You don't want to miss these Week 6 college football games.

More parents are turning to AI for advice

'It’s a tool and it’s incredible and it’s getting more pervasive. But don’t let it take the place of critical thinking… There’s a lot of benefit for us as parents to think things through and consult experts versus just plugging it into a computer.'

~ Dr. Michael Glazier, chief medical officer of Bluebird Kids Health in Broward County, Florida, told USA TODAY that parents should always use AI with a “critical eye" as they increasingly rely on the tool.

Photo of the day: Drenched in victory

The Yankees defeated the Red Sox 4-0 in the decisive Game 3 of their American League wild-card series on Thursday. Now, the team advances to the AL Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, beginning Saturday as they aim to vanquish two division rivals. The Yankees clubhouse was raining beer.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Daily Briefing: Enter the 'Showgirl' era

Reporting by Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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