Biography of Taylor Swift
Country-pop singer Taylor Swift is one of the brightest musical stars of the "new generation." She is beautiful, and talented, with her albums selling in millions and achieving multi-platinum status.Childhood
The future country-pop star was born on December 13, 1989, in the small town of Reading, Pennsylvania, but moved at an early age to another provincial town, Wyomissing. Her father was a renowned financial advisor, and her mother managed the household. From a young age, little Taylor knew she wanted to become a singer, and her parents supported her creative ambitions in every way. She began taking vocal lessons at an early age. As Taylor Swift herself admitted, her childhood idols were country singers LeAnn Rimes and Shania Twain, as well as her grandmother, from whom she presumably inherited her beautiful, clear voice. At the age of 10, Taylor Swift started playing the guitar, and that's when her repertoire began to include her own songs. The girl was always drawn to the stage and never feared public performances. By the age of ten, her innate artistry and stage charm made her a star in her hometown—no festival, fair, or public competition in Wyomissing was complete without her performances. At 12, she received a standing ovation for singing the U.S. national anthem at the opening ceremony of the 76th Philadelphia Games.First Steps to Success
As a teenager, Taylor Swift moved to one of the suburbs of bustling Nashville, a city rightfully called the capital of country music. Here, she began taking private lessons with songwriter Liz Rose and sang with her guitar on the streets, standing by the windows of a local café. It was there that producer Scott Borchetta noticed her. At that time, the music industry veteran was just starting to promote his own label, Big Machine Records, so meeting a young, talented singer was very timely. In 2006, with Borchetta's support, Taylor Swift recorded her first studio single, "Tim McGraw," dedicated to her favorite country artist. Two months later, the debut album of the budding singer was released. The self-titled album, Taylor Swift, became very popular, earning a five-time platinum status and staying on the Billboard 200 chart for 234 weeks, breaking the decade's record. The audience appreciated the songs, whose themes seemed quite superficial at first glance—first love, teenage experiences, and the transition from girl to woman. However, the lyrics did not seem trivial; instead, they made one think about the challenges of the emotionally complex period of growing up. Soon, Taylor Swift was spoken of as a rising country star. During this period, she also received her first awards: the famous Nashville Songwriters Association named her the year's best songwriter and performer—in the "country city"! Moreover, Taylor Swift became the youngest recipient of this award. Astonishing everyone with her incredible work ethic, in November 2008, Taylor Swift released her second studio album, "Fearless." The album quickly reached the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart and broke her previous record, achieving six-time platinum status. The new album brought Taylor Swift new awards. Young Hollywood Awards (category "Superstar of Tomorrow"), MTV Video Music Awards ("Best Video"), People's Choice Awards ("Favorite Female Artist"), American Music Awards ("Favorite Country Female Artist")—awards poured in one after another.Rise
By this point, Taylor Swift had transformed from a promising young artist into one of the most popular stars on the global stage. Her position in the music industry was solidified by two new albums—"Speak Now" (2010) and "Red" (2012), each of which went quadruple platinum in the US and brought her phenomenal popularity in Europe. The young singer's tour geography extended from the US to Japan. She spent long months away from home, returning to the States only to collect another award. In 2013, she recorded a soundtrack for the movie "The Hunger Games," and her song "Safe and Sound" was nominated for a Golden Globe but lost to "Skyfall" by Adele.In 2014, Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album titled "1989," which she described as her "first documented official pop album" with a completely new style. The new release was a hit: in the first week, US residents bought 1.2 million copies of the album, and total sales approached 9 million copies. The singer's image also changed: replacing curls, t-shirts with bright prints, and short denim shorts were elegant evening outfits, heels, and perfect styling. The song "Bad Blood" was a diss track aimed at her former friend Katy Perry. Swift believed Perry deliberately poached dancers from her tour to disrupt her performances. "I was friends with her for a long time, and then I realized we were real enemies!" Taylor once said. Katy was very surprised: according to her, the dancers preferred to work with Perry because she offered better conditions. However, the friendship between Swift and Perry ended: Taylor rejected all of Katy's attempts to reconcile. In April 2016, Taylor Swift released a new video for the song "New Romantics," which was essentially a concert video. However, by summer, Taylor had disappeared from the radar. Fans were understanding, as she had gone through two unpleasant breakups in a row. In November, she topped the list of the world's highest-paid singers, compiled by Forbes. But as it turned out, she was on top "in advance." In November 2017, Taylor Swift released her sixth studio album "Reputation." The album consisted of 15 tracks, with the lead single "Look What You Made Me Do." In the first week, 1.216 million copies were sold in the US alone, but critics' reviews were mostly negative. The triumphant return to the stage Taylor had planned didn't happen. The supporting tour wasn't very successful either. Ticket prices rose significantly.
The summer of 2019 started with major troubles for Taylor Swift. The label Big Machine Records, under which her career began 13 years ago, was bought by Justin Bieber's producer and manager, Scooter Braun. Taylor's and other artists' opinions on the label, including Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and Kanye West, were not considered in the deal.
The rights to all the artists' albums were transferred to Scooter Braun. Taylor Swift lost the rights to all the songs released before her album "Lover" (released in August 2019), as it was recorded on her own label, Taylor Swift Productions, Inc.
Taylor had no hope for a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, as Scooter Braun never hid his dislike for Swift and supported Kanye West when he mocked her. Moreover, Taylor admitted that she learned about the sale of the label from the media. Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Miley Cyrus, and Rihanna unfollowed Braun on social media. Other colleagues of Taylor did not take her side. Scott Borchetta, the former owner of Big Machine Records, said that Swift was being dishonest: her father owns shares in the label and could not have been unaware of the sale in advance. Demi Lovato, another Big Machine Records artist, defended Scooter Braun, saying he is a good person and she is grateful to him for everything. In response, Taylor Swift's fans bombarded her with insults.Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun have now said that I’m not allowed to perform my old songs on television because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I’m allowed to next year. Additionally—and this isn’t the way I had planned on telling you this news—Netflix has created a documentary about my life for the past few years. Scott and Scooter have declined the use of my older music or performance footage for this project even though there is no mention of either of them or Big Machine Records anywhere in the film. Scott Borchetta told my team that they’ll allow me to use my music only if I do these things: If I agree to not re-record copycat versions of my songs next year (which is something I’m both legally allowed to do and looking forward to) and also told my team that I need to stop talking about him and Scooter Braun.
According to Forbes for 2019, Taylor Swift again became the musician with the highest income ($185 million), surpassing her rival Kanye West and British pop singer Ed Sheeran. Her album "Red" was among the top five albums of the 2010s according to Rolling Stone magazine. Here, Kanye still took the lead over Taylor: his album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" ranked first, while Taylor's only reached fourth place.
Film Roles
Taylor's acting career began with an episode in the series "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." A few months later, in the fall of 2009, she appeared in a feature film about Hannah Montana with a cameo. Her screen appearance was brief, but during the filming, Taylor got along quite well with the lead actress, singer Miley Cyrus. The singer's appearance in the romantic comedy "Valentine's Day," released in 2010, was somewhat more noticeable. Subsequently, the American singer also appeared in the little-known film "Todd vs. High School," as well as in an episode of the comedy TV series "New Girl." Her singing career and debut film roles marked a new phase in the singer's creative journey, attracting even more attention to her persona. For instance, in 2011, Maxim magazine ranked Taylor Swift 20th on its list of the most desirable women on the planet. At the end of 2019, Taylor also appeared in the film "Cats," an adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name. Despite a strong cast (besides Taylor, the film featured Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, and others), "Cats" had a poor start at the box office, largely due to the unsettling graphics—many did not like the cats with human faces.Conflict with Kanye West
In 2009, Taylor Swift had a conflict with rapper Kanye West. She won the MTV award for "Best Female Video." As she went on stage to give her acceptance speech, the rapper suddenly grabbed the microphone from her and stated that Beyoncé's video, nominated in the same category, was the best video he had ever seen in his life. His words undoubtedly impressed Beyoncé, who was in the audience, but Taylor visibly wilted on the spot. Seven years later, the conflict continued: Kanye West released the single "Famous," which included the line: "I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex, why? I made that bitch famous." Furthermore, the video featured a wax figure of a naked Swift (to be fair, there were many other figures, including Rihanna and George W. Bush). The singer sued West, although the rapper apologized to her several times for the incident. Eventually, Kanye's wife, socialite Kim Kardashian, claimed that Taylor gave her consent to these lines during a phone conversation with Kanye, which, as it turned out, was recorded. During the phone call, Swift did indeed agree to the provocative lyrics, adding that it sounded like a compliment to her. "I never thought you'd mention my name in your songs. By the way, thanks for the bouquet you sent me. I posted it on my blog, and the photo got an incredible number of likes!"The 2020s: A Global Phenomenon
The year 2020 was incredibly eventful for Taylor Swift and resulted in a genuine creative rebirth for the singer. While the world went into lockdown, Taylor worked on new songs from her home.In July, she unexpectedly released the album "Folklore" – a true surprise announced just 24 hours before its release. The album marked a turning point: instead of her usual pop sound, fans were greeted with atmospheric indie-folk compositions featuring deep stories and characters. She worked on it remotely with members of The National and Bon Iver, creating music through video calls – very much in the spirit of 2020. But this was just the beginning. In December, she surprised the world again by releasing a second album, "Evermore" – a "sister" album to "Folklore." Taylor called it the continuation of her "woodland season."
There was also a turning point in her conflict with Scooter Braun over the rights to her old recordings. Taylor began the process of re-recording her early albums to regain control over her music. During the quarantine, Taylor helped her fans who were experiencing financial difficulties due to the pandemic. She personally sent them money via PayPal when she learned about their problems on social media. Some fans received $3,000 from her just because she wanted to help.
The year 2021 was a return to her roots for Taylor Swift, but with an entirely new scope – the singer embarked on a long journey of re-recording her old albums! In April, she released "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" – a re-recorded version of her iconic 2008 album. It wasn't just a reissue – each song sounded new, and the tracklist included previously unreleased tracks. Fans were thrilled to hear their favorite teenage anthems performed by a more mature Taylor.
But the real sensation happened in November when she released "Red (Taylor's Version)" – the ten-minute version of "All Too Well" took the internet by storm. Taylor created a short film featuring Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien, turning the song into a true cinematic story. The red scarf from the song, seen as a nod to Taylor's ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal, went viral on TikTok. That same year, Damon Albarn from Blur claimed Taylor doesn't write her own songs. She responded in her trademark style:
The music community rallied to her defense, and Albarn had to publicly apologize.I was a big fan of yours until I read this. I write all my songs. Your opinion is completely false and so damaging.
There were also touching moments – Taylor sent a special gift to a young mother, a longtime fan: a knitted baby blanket and a handwritten letter. When she learned one of her fans got into medical school, she sent flowers and a congratulatory card.
At the Grammy Awards, she won "Album of the Year" for "Folklore," becoming the first woman to receive this prestigious award three times. In her speech, she thanked not only her team but also her long-time fans who have supported her throughout her career. By the end of the year, Taylor broke several records – her ten-minute version of "All Too Well" became the longest song ever to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. "Red (Taylor's Version)" became the most-streamed album by a female artist in a single day on Spotify.
In August 2022, at the MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor announced the release of her new album "Midnights." She turned the announcement into an engaging game, revealing track titles each night on TikTok in a series called "Midnights Mayhem with Me." On October 21, "Midnights" was released and quickly broke all conceivable records: it became the most-streamed album in a single day on Spotify, and Taylor became the first artist to occupy all top 10 spots on the Billboard Hot 100 simultaneously. "Anti-Hero," with its famous line "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me," spawned thousands of memes. The year concluded with the announcement of the grand "Eras Tour," promising to be the biggest in Taylor's career. Swifties began preparing special outfits and friendship bracelets for exchanges at concerts. Ticketmaster experienced such a demand for tickets that the site crashed. This led to a scandal that even caught the attention of the US Congress.
At the end of the year, Taylor received numerous awards, including the prestigious "Artist of the Year" at the American Music Awards, where she thanked her fans for their incredible support. Her video for "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" won a Grammy.
The main event of 2023 was the grand "Eras Tour," which began in March. It was something extraordinary: three-hour shows featuring 44 songs, covering all stages of Taylor's career! Every concert became a true celebration – fans exchanged homemade friendship bracelets, dressed in costumes, and the cities hosting concerts received a multimillion-dollar economic boost from the influx of tourists. In July, the much-anticipated event occurred – Taylor released "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)," her third re-recorded album. Fans were thrilled with the new versions of favorite songs, especially "Dear John" and "Better Than Revenge."
October promised more with the release of "1989 (Taylor's Version)"! The album broke sales records, and new versions of hits "Style," "Blank Space," and "Shake It Off" sounded fresh and modern. Fans particularly appreciated the song "Slut!" which became an anthem against double standards. At the end of 2023, Time magazine named Taylor "Person of the Year," highlighting her incredible impact on culture and the economy. She became the first entertainment industry figure to receive this title for creative achievements.
Taylor Swift's Personal Life
Taylor Swift’s romantic interests have always been in the spotlight of the Western press. In 2008, the artist had a romance with musician Joe Jonas, a member of the Jonas Brothers. However, the relationship with the charming heartthrob lasted only three and a half months. In 2009, Taylor dated the famous werewolf from "Twilight" – Taylor Lautner for a few months, with whom she co-starred in the movie "Valentine's Day." There is a belief that Taylor Swift's popular song "Back to December" is about her relationship with this actor. After breaking up with Lautner, the singer's life included Connor Kennedy (grandson of John Kennedy), One Direction's Harry Styles, and actor Jake Gyllenhaal. However, all these romances lasted no more than 3-4 months. In March 2015, the singer started dating popular Scottish DJ Calvin Harris. Forbes recognized them as the highest-paid couple of 2015, with their combined earnings totaling $146 million. In June 2016, Swift and Harris announced their breakup. Just three weeks later, Taylor appeared in public with British actor Tom Hiddleston, star of "Thor" and "The Avengers." Many fans on both sides believed that the romance was nothing more than a PR stunt, as Taylor was recording her sixth studio album, and Hiddleston was featured in one of her new videos, with all the couple's photos looking overly staged. The public was particularly outraged by Tom Hiddleston's T-shirt with the inscription "I Love T.S." By August 2016, rumors appeared in the press that Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston's romance was fading. According to the media, the disagreement stemmed from the singer's desire to marry, while the actor did not intend to give up his bachelor status. The breakup rumors were finally confirmed in late August when Taylor Swift removed Tom Hiddleston from her social media friends. After the romance ended, Tom hinted in an interview that their relationship with Taylor was indeed contractual. Soon, the girl was spotted with another young man – the British actor Joe Alwyn. Taylor was immediately suspected of having no real love between them, and that the guy was paid to pretend to be the singer's boyfriend. However, they were still together a year later, at least as indicated by numerous references in her new album "Lover," released in August 2019. For example, in one of the songs, she admits she fell in love with Joe during her romance with Hiddleston. In "Cruel Summer," she sings about not wanting to keep their relationship a secret and sneaking into his yard every night.Joe contributed to writing several songs for "Folklore" and "Evermore" under the pseudonym William Bowery. Their relationship ended in the spring of 2023. Neither Taylor nor Joe publicly shared reasons for the breakup.
After that, Taylor had a relationship with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, which lasted only a couple of months. However, in September, her romance with Travis Kelce began. It all started in July 2023, when Travis attended Taylor's concert as part of the Eras Tour in Kansas City. He had a plan: he wanted to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number. In September 2023, Taylor appeared at a Kansas City Chiefs game. She sat in a box with Travis's mom, Donna Kelce, and cheered enthusiastically for the team. The moment became particularly memorable when she joyfully exclaimed after Travis's successful catch.
From that moment, media frenzy ensued. Taylor began regularly attending Chiefs games, drawing huge attention each time. She befriended the wives and girlfriends of other team players, especially Brittany Mahomes, the wife of quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In October, the couple began appearing together in public. They were spotted having a romantic dinner in New York, and then Taylor and Travis attended Saturday Night Live together, humorously addressing the heightened attention to their relationship.
A particularly touching moment came in January 2024, when after a victorious Chiefs game, Travis found Taylor in the crowd and gave her a big hug, openly showing his feelings. At the Super Bowl 2024, the whole world watched as Taylor crossed the globe, flying from Tokyo to support Travis in the most important game of the season. In numerous interviews, both speak warmly and respectfully of each other. Travis calls Taylor "brilliant" and admires her dedication to her craft, while she appreciates his sincerity and sense of humor.
Taylor Swift Now
2024 began with another surprise from Taylor: at the Grammy Awards, she not only received her fourth Grammy for Album of the Year, becoming the first female artist to achieve this, but also announced the release of her new album, "The Tortured Poets Department," on April 19. At the start of the year, she also continued her international Eras Tour, captivating stadiums worldwide. Each concert remained an event, drawing tens of thousands of fans and creating a unique sense of unity through music. The tour grossed over $2 billion, spanned six continents, and lasted 21 months, with over 10 million attendees across 149 concerts.Taylor Swift: latest news and articles
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4 Sep 2024Taylor Swift`s Father Accused of Attacking an Australian Journalist
27 Feb 2024Dressed in an Off-the-Shoulder Gown with a Bold Slit, Taylor Swift Graces the Grammys
5 Feb 2024Travis Kelce Plans to Propose to Taylor Swift
8 Dec 2023
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