"How Bad Do U Want Me" has quickly become a fan-favorite track from Lady Gaga's new album, Mayhem, but she nearly left the song on the studio floor. "I almost didn't put that on the album," the pop star,

Neither Gaga nor Taylor have confirmed whether the Tortured Poets Department artist had any involvement in the track. According to Mayhem ’s album credits, “How Bad Do U Want Me” was written by Andrew Watt, Henry Walter, Gaga, and her fiancé, Michael Polansky.

Within hours of Mayhem ’s release, Twitter was abuzz with theories that, at their most coherent, suggest Swift was secretly featured on Gaga’s track, and, at their least coherent, make some use of the phrase “reheated nachos.

Lady Gaga's new album, Mayhem, is bringing joy to Little Monsters everywhere - and now Swifties have entered the chat. After the album debuted Friday, March 7, fans of both pop stars soon started speculating that Taylor Swift made an uncredited guest appearance on the song "How Bad Do U Want Me.

The thing is, How Bad Do U Want Me IS Taylor Swift nachos but they’re not stale…Gaga had Taylor cook a fresh batch for her, took them home, crisped them up in the air fryer, and made her homemade guac and salsa to go with #MAYHEM pic.twitter.com/r2fpvoPMDA

Despite speculation that Taylor Swift provided background vocals on Lady Gaga's new album, multiple outlets have shut down the rumors.

The Contenders is a midweek column that looks at artists aiming for the top of the Billboard charts, and the strategies behind their efforts. This week, for the upcoming Billboard 200 dated Mar. 22, we look at whether the latest album from one of the century's greatest pop stars will return her to the top of the chart for the first time in five years.

It is as complete a statement about who Lady Gaga is in 2025 as anything could be. MAYHEM repositions Gaga as a dance diva heavily indebted to the icons who came before her to an audience as likely to know her for wearing a meat dress as for performing with Tony Bennett.