“It was my hairbrush song”: Jennifer Lopez’s surprise 2013 duet with Taylor Swift has racked up over 12 million views, a Red Tour moment that shocked 56,000 fans.

In 2013, the North American leg of Taylor Swift’s highly successful The Red Tour was defined by a rotating cast of surprise guests, but arguably the most viral moment came when pop icon Jennifer Lopez emerged on stage. The unexpected duet, performed before a stunned Los Angeles crowd of approximately 56,000 fans, has since been immortalized online, racking up over 12 million views on Swift’s official YouTube channel.

The high-energy collaboration saw Swift and Lopez performing J.Lo’s 2002 signature hit, “Jenny From The Block.” Swift set the stage for the moment, affectionately calling the track “my hairbrush song,” a relatable admission that transformed a global superstar’s childhood memory into a live spectacle. The song itself, released on September 26, 2002, as the lead single from Lopez’s third studio album, This Is Me… Then, quickly became an international success, peaking at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and featuring rappers Jadakiss and Styles P. The famously paparazzi-heavy music video for the track was directed by the acclaimed Francis Lawrence.

The Era of Collaboration: The Red Tour‘s Star Power

The Lopez collaboration was just one example of the unprecedented star power Swift showcased during The Red Tour, which ultimately spanned 86 shows globally, generated a massive box office gross of $150.2 million, and was seen by 1.7 million attendees. The tour was a celebratory period for celebrity camaraderie, featuring 21 guest artists overall.

Beyond Lopez, other notable surprise moments underscored the tour’s defining spirit:

Carly Simon: The pairing with the legendary singer-songwriter to perform her 1972 classic, “You’re So Vain,” was particularly poignant. Swift heralded the track as a masterpiece, drawing thematic parallels between Simon’s breakup anthem and her own chart-toppers like “All Too Well” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Together.” This generational link was instantly recognized by fans, with one online commenter observing that the “only difference between Carly and Taylor is 40 years.”
Patrick Stump: Fall Out Boy’s lead vocalist joined Swift to perform their hit “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark.”
Ed Sheeran: While he served as the main supporting act, he regularly joined Swift to perform their duet “Everything Has Changed,” a track from the Red album.

The Evolution: From Surprise Guests to Catalog Dominance

The spirit of collaboration that defined the Red Tour contrasts sharply with Swift’s later, historic tours. A decade after the J.Lo duet, Swift’s 2023–2024 Eras Tour—a testament to her own deep catalog—featured far fewer guest artists, with only a handful like Ice Spice and Gracie Abrams making appearances.

This shift mirrors a monumental career trajectory. Swift, who used to belt out J.Lo’s hits into a hairbrush, has fully transitioned from an ambitious young artist to a generational icon with a catalog now brimming with her own classics. Today, that prophecy of dominance is fulfilled: Swift has sold over 200 million records worldwide and is recognized as Spotify’s most-streamed artist, cementing her legacy as an artist who now defines the era rather than simply celebrating the inspiration from her past.