Taylor Swift rose from a humble beginning to the top of the music world, with an astounding list of accomplishments along the way. She’s sold millions of albums, won numerous awards, and wowed audiences around the globe on multiple tour runs.
The Reading, Pennsylvania native started her career by winning a local talent competition at age 11, but it wasn’t until she signed a contract with Scott Borchetta that she became a star. Swift quickly went from performing at small venues to commanding stadiums packed with Swifties — her adoring fans — on international tours. She’s embraced pop and rock influences on her later albums, but her country roots remain at the core of her music.
In 2008, Swift released her sophomore effort, Fearless. The album pushed the boundaries of traditional country, introducing new genres and a pop-minded sound that earned her critical acclaim from outlets like “The New York Times” and “USA Today”. The record spawned five singles, including the Grammy Award-winning “Love Story”, which made her the youngest solo writer and singer of a number 1 country song. The resulting album, 1989, was her most successful to date, spending 11 weeks at number one and establishing her as a crossover star.
Swift pushed further into the pop arena with her next release, RED (2012). This album saw Swift collaborating with producers and songwriters who would become some of her biggest collaborators, such as Max Martin and Shellback. The record introduced new sounds into her repertoire, from heartland rock to dubstep and dance pop, but it also delved into more complex relationship issues, with songs that double as short stories and character studies. From Proustian flashbacks (“cardigan”) to outcast widows (the title track) and doomed relationships (a heavy-hearted duet with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon), RED found Swift writing ever-more convincingly, wittily, and painfully about the messy emotions that define youth.
Following the success of RED, Swift embarked on her first multi-year concert tour, The Red Tour, which grossed over $150 million and established her as one of the most popular touring acts in history. She followed this up with her second multi-year arena tour, The Eras Tour, in 2023.
In addition to her many music accomplishments, Swift has become a philanthropist and social activist, using her wealth to support various causes, most notably the 1989 Foundation, which provides scholarships for students with financial needs. She also uses her status to promote awareness for domestic violence and has advocated for LGBT rights. In 2019, the AMAs named Swift Musical Artist of the Year, marking the fourth time she has won the honor. In addition, she has been on the TIME 100 list of most influential people in the world for several years running.
