Taylor Swift has worked her way up from a small town in Tennessee to commanding stadiums full of adoring fans (aka the Swifties) on international tours. Her music has earned her countless accolades, including multiple Grammys, VMAs and AMAs. But her brilliance is not just as an artist, but also as a businesswoman and strategist. She has crafted an unprecedented path to success with a combination of talent, savvy and sheer force of will.
Taylor was born in 1989 in Reading, Pennsylvania. She grew up on her family’s Christmas tree farm and started singing for local talent shows. She was inspired by Shania Twain and Faith Hill and began writing songs on her own. At age 14, she convinced her parents to move to Nashville so she could pursue a career in country music. She was discovered at a showcase at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and signed with Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records. Her debut album, Fearless, debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and she won the prestigious Horizon Award from the Country Music Association.
After three albums of Music Row-indebted songcraft, Taylor formally embraced pop with 2012’s Red. The album was a critical and commercial smash that ushered in a new era for Taylor. She would go on to write songs for a number of popular films, including Fifty Shades Darker, which she co-wrote with Zayn Malik and Calvin Harris.
In 2019, Taylor pushed herself creatively with the release of her sixth studio album, Lover. The record shattered sales and streaming records, becoming the fastest-selling album of the year in the US. Its mellow production and universal themes of love and commitment made it an instant hit. This year, it was awarded Album of the Year at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
Next on the list is “august”, a standout track from Taylor’s 2020 folklore album that captivated listeners with its wistful melodies and dreamy production. The track has accumulated over 1.5 billion streams as Taylor explores the ebb and flow of unrequited love.
The final song on the list is a brash and infectious pop number that proves Taylor’s knack for crafting catchy anthems. Its uplifting production and relatable lyrics encapsulate the excitement of a new relationship, earning it over 1.3 billion streams.
On December 10, 2020, Taylor surprised her fans with the release of her ninth studio album, evermore. Produced by longtime collaborator Jack Antonoff and recorded in isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the album showcased a ruminative, lo-fi sound that was influenced by artists like The National’s Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. The record debuted atop the Billboard 200 and became the first album in history to do so for eight consecutive weeks. It was followed by 2022’s Midnights, which was written after the 2018 United States presidential election and delved into self-reflection and insecurity. The albums have both been certified triple Platinum.
