Charlie Puth on Taylor Swift’s Influence and New Album ‘Whatever’s Clever’ (March 2026)

Charlie Puth on Taylor Swift’s Influence and New Album ‘Whatever’s Clever’ (March 2026)

August 2, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

Charlie Puth discusses his new album 'Whatever’s Clever' and the influence of Taylor Swift while reflecting on his career and personal life.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Charlie Puth has spent the last decade topping charts with hits like “See You Again,” “Attention” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore”. He also shares about performing the national anthem at the 2026 Super Bowl, drawing inspiration from Whitney Houston's iconic rendition. Puth sits down with Willie Geist at a New York City jazz club to discuss his fourth studio album, “Whatever’s Clever,” an orchestral pop record influenced by late 1980s and early 1990s yacht rock, while reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped his rise from accidental pop star to global headliner. Plus, he opens up about a recent conversation with former President Barack Obama about the importance of music education, how Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” lyric pushed him to be more vulnerable and how marriage and fatherhood have reshaped his songwriting. (Original broadcast date March 8, 2026.)

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