A global icon and one of the world’s best-selling artists, taylor swift is a pop phenomenon. She deftly traverses country, pop and adult alternative music genres while her lyrics resonate with a deep sense of relatability. Swift has a knack for taking on the big issues that impact the masses, from gender equality to sexual assault and social justice. In doing so, she has forged her own path as a female artist and rewritten the rules of popular music.
Swift was born Taylor Alison Swift in Reading, Pennsylvania on December 13, 1989. Her grandmother Marjorie Finlay was a professional opera singer and Swift took after her, singing at local events as early as age 10. By age 11, she was belting out the national anthem before a Philadelphia 76ers game and began writing her own songs. Inspired by her idols Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks, she started crafting original material that reflected her experiences as an alienated teen.
With the release of her fifth album, 1989, in 2014, Swift shifted gears and made an immediate impact on fans with an entirely new sound. The album was a complete departure from her country roots and landed at number one on the Billboard 200, making it the first time in history that a woman had accomplished such a feat. It also won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Album and Song of the Year, marking a significant turning point in her career.
After a brief hiatus from the public eye, Swift returned with her sixth album, reputation, in 2017. With an unprecedented return to the spotlight, the record quickly topped the charts and was the fastest-selling album by a female artist in history. It would go on to earn her another Grammy for Album of the Year and two more RIAA gold certificates.
In 2022, Swift surprised fans with the release of folklore and its sister album evermore, both of which topped the Billboard 100 and charted at number one on the iTunes album charts. She sought out collaborators from other genres, such as Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff from The National, and incorporated an indie folk style that was influenced by her love for Americana music.
The success of the albums led to a tour, a documentary and multiple fashion lines. Swift has also appeared in many movies and TV shows, notably starring as Bombalurina in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats. In addition to acting, Taylor has been a force for good in the world of charity and activism, using her star power to promote causes she believes in. In addition to her own foundation, she supports LGBTQ rights and has spoken out against sexual misconduct in Hollywood. In 2019, she donated $1 million to help victims of the Las Vegas shooting.
