The American singer-songwriter Taylor Alison Swift is an acclaimed cultural icon of the 21st century, lauded for her songwriting, musical versatility and artistic reinventions. She has also proven herself as a skilled businesswoman, inking deals with Apple Music, Keds and Diet Coke among others. The star has starred in television shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Saturday Night Live and appeared in films like Valentine’s Day and New Girl, as well as providing her voice for the animated film The Lorax.
She began writing songs at the age of 10, and by 12, had already recorded a demo tape that she presented to RCA Records. The company awarded her an artist development deal, but she left at the age of 14, preferring to pursue a career in country music. She began appearing at venues in Nashville and caught the attention of Scott Borchetta, who had just formed Big Machine Records. He signed her to a record deal, and she moved to Nashville.
In the years that followed, Taylor established herself as a leading country music singer. She wrote many of her own songs and collaborated with producers such as Nathan Chapman and Liz Rose, and released several chart-topping albums, including Fearless (2009), Speak Now World Tour – Live (2011), Red (2012) and 1989 (2014). She has embarked on multiple world tours, and in 2022, she released the live album City of Lover from her Reputation Stadium Tour.
Alongside her music career, Taylor has become a prominent social activist and philanthropist. She supports a wide range of charities and causes, including LGBT rights, child exploitation and poverty alleviation. She has also worked in the fashion industry and launched her own clothing line, while promoting anti-bullying campaigns.
In January 2022, the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University taught its first-ever course focusing on Taylor. The course, which had a lengthy waitlist, examined her evolution as a creative music entrepreneur and the legacy of pop and country songwriters.
Since 2015, Taylor has dominated the American Music Awards, winning Artist of the Year for an unprecedented four consecutive years. In 2018, she surpassed Beyonce as the most-awarded female artist in AMA history. In November 2021, she unveiled a re-recording of her fourth studio album, RED, which became the first ever album to debut at #1 on both the Billboard 200 and the Hot 100. This was followed by her ninth studio album, evermore, which delved into storytelling and featured collaborations with The National’s Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff and HAIM’s Justine Suwakawa. This album and its single, Willow, also debuted at #1.
