American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has been described as one of the most influential singers of her generation. Known for narrative songs about her personal life, she has received widespread media coverage and become a cultural phenomenon. She is the first female solo artist to have four albums top the Billboard 200, and her work has earned her 23 Grammy nominations, including two wins, as well as numerous awards from music industry organizations.
Born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1989, Taylor was raised by her mother and father. Her interest in songwriting began when she was a child and she would write lyrics to Disney film soundtracks. Her mother encouraged her talent, presenting her with a guitar at age 12. In 2006, she signed with Big Machine Records and released her debut album, Fearless. The record was an immediate success and sold more than a million copies in its first week of release. It was retitled Love Story in 2007 after the release of the movie of the same name, which featured Taylor as the lead actress. The album reached number five on the Billboard 200 and spent a year on the charts.
In 2012, Taylor shifted gears with the release of her third studio album RED. The record introduced a more pop-inspired sound and brought her collaborations with producers and songwriters like Max Martin and Shellback to the forefront. The accompanying RED Tour grossed over $150 million, making it the highest-grossing country tour ever at the time of its completion. In 2016, she starred as Bombalurina in the movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats, earning her another Golden Globe nod and a Grammy nomination. She also appeared in the documentary ’Miss Americana’ (2020), which was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later released on Netflix.
After a brief hiatus, she returned with the album Reputation in 2017 which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The record broke multiple sales records and made Taylor the first female artist to have three consecutive albums sell more than a million copies in their opening week. The album went on to win album of the year at the Grammy Awards and spawned multiple hit singles. In 2021, she surprised fans with the release of Folklore and its companion album Evermore.
A master of genres, Taylor’s music has embraced everything from heartland rock to dubstep and dance-pop influences. She continues to challenge the boundaries of popular music with her fifth studio album, 25 (2019), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 100 and was streamed more than a billion times in its first week. In 2021, she defied the notion that pop music caters to shorter attention spans with All Too Well (10 Minute Version), which became the longest song ever to top the Hot 100. She delved into more personal territory with her 2022 album Midnights and its single Anti-Hero. Swift is a multi-faceted performer, director, and producer who is widely regarded as one of the most gifted artists of her generation.
