unreleased Aaron – A viral TikTok video shows Aaron Lewis’s unreleased album booklet appearing as packing filler inside Taylor Swift’s “I Knew It, I Knew You” CD orders. Lewis says the materials were from his forthcoming 10-song album “Give My Country Back,” which is not schedul
For some Taylor Swift fans. opening the “I Knew It. I Knew You” CD collection felt like a puzzle moment—one that could lead to hidden lyrics. What they found instead was something far more specific. and far less intended: printed pages from Aaron Lewis’s unreleased country album. “Give My Country Back.”.
A TikTok creator. Christa Jo (@heartwasglassidroppedit). posted a video showing her unfolding what appeared to be recycled packing paper in her Swift order. She said she initially joked that her cat would like it. then realized the pages contained photos. lyrics and artwork tied to Lewis’s forthcoming release. In her video. she said she had what she described as the entire album booklet with lyrics to all the songs. even though the album is scheduled for release on July 17.
When the clip spread, Lewis acknowledged the viral videos on social media. “Oh look, there’s my new album, that hasn’t even been released yet, shredded as packaging paper in Taylor Swift merch,” he wrote. “Ain’t that some sh**.”
Lewis told MISRYOUM that he first learned about the incident through his team. He said he doesn’t run social media himself and explained that he didn’t have accounts like MySpace when he was younger. “And when this was brought to me, I was just like, ‘What is going on? This is just weird.’”
The country artist’s album is a 10-song release through Big Machine Label Group. and its title track. “Give My Country Back. ” carries the politically charged message that has shaped his country career. Lewis said the cover to his brand-new record—one that hasn’t been released—was appearing in Swift packaging.
As he described it, artists put their trust in the distribution and merchandising process. “As artists, we put our trust in the distribution companies to get our material way up front and trust that they’ll be responsible with what it is that we give them,” he said.
So how did the album materials end up as packing filler? Lewis said he didn’t know. He added that he understood the Swift merchandise was part of a promotional gift box, but he couldn’t explain how his album booklet became the kind of filler fans later unfolded at home.
He suggested the materials would have moved through Universal Music Group, which he said was overseeing product management and merchandising. Asked directly how something like this could happen. he said. “I don’t know how this happened. ” and continued: “I hate to think it’s malicious. but at the same time. I don’t know that it’s not.”.
Swift’s team did not return email requests for comment.
What makes this case sharper is that Lewis also said this wasn’t old material sitting around. “I haven’t even put the record out yet,” he said. “It’s not like it’s old stuff that was just sitting around that they decided to make packing material out of. It’s my new record. I just don’t understand how something like that can happen.”.
The episode also connects to a shared business history. Swift, who signed with Big Machine Records in 2005, was the flagship artist credited with helping launch the label. Lewis later signed his solo country career to Big Machine, releasing projects including “Sinner” through the label. In that overlap. Lewis said he met Swift once during a downtown Nashville event while both were associated with Big Machine.
Lewis described the encounter as brief and cordial. He said there was a block party-type event, he played a set, and Swift was there. “We were cordial and friendly,” he said. During their conversation, Lewis said Swift noticed the “13” tattoo behind his ear and posed for a photo pointing to it. He said the number holds meaning for both artists—Lewis was born on April 13, while Swift was born on Dec. 13.
He emphasized they never built a relationship beyond that meeting, and he said he does not blame Swift. “We live in two very, very different worlds. And she’s such a huge star that her world doesn’t intertwine with anyone’s worlds,” he said. “I certainly wouldn’t be trying to bring her into this or blame her for anything. It just so happens that it was my record cover in her gift box for her fans.”.
As for what he hopes will come out of the situation. Lewis said he isn’t trying to turn it into a promotional moment. “I don’t want people to think that this was an opportunity to promote my new record,” he said. “I don’t understand how a shredded-up copy of my new record’s art ended up in a Taylor Swift gift box for her fans.”.
For Taylor Swift fans, the packaging mix-up began as a scavenger hunt—something to keep opening, keep guessing, keep collecting. For Aaron Lewis. the moment has been more unsettling than exciting: his unreleased work. meant to arrive on July 17. ended up in the hands of strangers first—folded into the material meant to keep a fan order intact.
Taylor Swift merch Aaron Lewis Give My Country Back Big Machine Label Group Universal Music Group packaging mistake unreleased album July 17 release