Taylor Swift is one of the biggest pop stars of all time, with a multi-album career that spans more than a decade. She’s also one of the most acclaimed songwriters of our generation, penning hits for herself and others. With an impressive catalogue of music to choose from, it’s easy to see why she’s the best-selling female artist in history.
Despite her success, there’s no doubt that Taylor has seen her fair share of bad press. Whether it’s her feuds with fellow musicians or her infamous rant on the red carpet at the Oscars, she has always managed to defy expectations and take a stand for her own independence. Her sixth album, Reputation, is her most daring to date, and it’s a strong contender for Album of the Year at the 61st Grammy Awards.
The daughter of a stockbroker and a homemaker, Swift was born in 1989 in West Reading, Pennsylvania. As a child, she competed in horse shows and took vocal and acting lessons in New York City, but by age 12 had decided to focus on singing and songwriting.
At a showcase at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe in 2005, she caught the attention of Scott Borchetta, an executive who was preparing to form an independent record label called Big Machine Records. Her father bought a three percent share of the company, and Taylor became one of its first signings.
After a series of successful country albums, Swift began to experiment with genre. She was praised for her fifth studio release, 1989, which reintroduced her to pop music and gave her some of her most commercially successful songs. In the years that followed, she wrote two tracks for Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and starred in the movie Cats, but her most critically acclaimed work came with the album Fearless (2011), which explored more nuanced relationship issues.
While it’s difficult to say if the success of Reputation has made her more or less controversial, there’s no question that she’s taken a harder stance on social media and politics than ever before. She’s also made a concerted effort to expand her audience by working with artists from different backgrounds.
With a new album and a tour that will bring her all over the world, fans are eager to see what Taylor has in store for us next. In the meantime, we can all appreciate these 25 of her greatest hits. From her sexiest songs to her most honest confessionals, these are the songs that make Taylor Swift truly timeless.
