Jeopardy! Contestant Redeems Himself with Taylor Swift Clue

Drew Goins, a journalist from Honolulu, Hawai’i, redeemed himself on Monday night’s episode of ‘Jeopardy!’ by correctly answering a Taylor Swift-related clue, much to the delight of fans and his Swiftie brother. The episode, part of the show’s ‘Second Chance’ tournament, aired on January 6, 2025, and featured Goins competing against Steve Miller and Jonquil Garrick-Reynolds.

During the player introduction segment, Goins recounted his previous embarrassment over missing a Swift-related question in his initial ‘Jeopardy!’ appearance. His brother, a devoted Swiftie, had prepared an entire practice board for him, but Goins still faltered. This time, however, Goins seized the opportunity for redemption when the final clue of the first round appeared under the category ‘Albums.’ The clue read: ‘In 2014 Taylor Swift gave us this album named for a different year.’ Goins buzzed in first and confidently answered, ‘What is 1989?’ The audience erupted in applause, and host Ken Jennings declared, ‘Redemption for Drew!’

Goins went on to dominate the game, leading at both breaks and securing a spot in the tournament finals. His performance was marked by strategic play, including correctly answering all three Daily Doubles. In the Final Jeopardy! round, all three contestants correctly identified the dating app Tinder, but Goins emerged victorious with a total of $36,801, the second-highest winning total of the season.

Fans and fellow contestants celebrated Goins’ redemption arc on social media. ‘Glad to see Drew is finally out of the woods with that epic redemption arc. No more bad blood from the angry Swifties!’ one fan wrote. Goins humorously replied, referencing Swift’s song ‘Bad Blood.’ Fellow contestant Sam Cameron praised the game as a ‘crackerjack match,’ while Zoe Grobman, another competitor, highlighted the camaraderie among the players during the taping.

The episode, taped on Election Day, provided a welcome distraction from the tense political atmosphere. Grobman noted that the contestants turned off their phones and focused on the game, creating a supportive environment. Goins’ victory not only advanced him in the tournament but also solidified his place in ‘Jeopardy!’ lore as the contestant who turned his Swift-related stumble into a triumphant comeback.