Taylor Swift has made her name as a pop music star, but she’s also become a business mogul and philanthropist. She’s a three-time Grammy winner and the highest-selling album artist of the 21st century. Her tours have grossed over $2 billion. She’s a frequent collaborator with a variety of producers, including Max Martin, Shellback and Nathan Chapman. She also has written songs for a number of movies, including the soundtracks for The Hunger Games and Valentine’s Day.
Swift was born and raised in West Reading, Pennsylvania. Her parents moved her to Nashville when she was 14 so that she could pursue a career in country music. At a showcase at the Bluebird Cafe in 2005, she caught the attention of record executive Scott Borchetta, who had recently formed his own independent label, Big Machine Records. She became one of the label’s first signings, with her father purchasing a three percent share.
After releasing the debut album Speak Now in 2008, Swift’s music began to expand beyond country. Her lyrics delved into youthful love and the pain of heartbreak, while her voice sounded more mature than her peers. She’s never stopped pushing herself musically, though, and the 2014 release of 1989 ushered in a new era for Swift, with her sound becoming more pop-oriented and less country. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, and spent 11 weeks at the top of the charts.
In the years since, Swift has expanded her horizons even further. She collaborated with a slew of producers and songwriters on her next albums, including the Grammy-winning RED (2012). This album featured new genres for Swift, such as dubstep and dance pop. It was a commercial success, and topped the charts in 24 countries. Its singles, like “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space,” became inescapable at weddings and karaoke bars.
More recently, she’s explored indie folk with her 2022 release, folklore, and sexy synth-pop with the song, “cardigan.” The album was recorded in isolation while she was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and was Swift’s most personal to date. She also penned two songs for the 2022 movie The Rhythm of the Night.
Along with her prolific work as a recording artist, Swift has also established herself as a film and television actress. She made her acting debut in the 2010 romantic comedy Valentine’s Day, and has also appeared in The Rhythm of the Night, Begin Again, Speak Now and The Spectacular Now. In 2023, she received her first Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the movie Frozen 2. She’s also a major philanthropist, contributing more than $50 million to various charities.
