Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer and songwriter. Her kind of genre and music has been inspired by her personal life which has received several applauds and extensive media coverage.
Taylor Swift has inspired many people through her narrative songwriting. Aside her songwriting skills, the Grammy awards winner is a producer, director, actress and businesswoman.
She actively started doing music from to 2004 to date. She has several singles and albums which has won her several awards.
Taylor Swift Biography
Early Life & Education
Taylor spend most of her early life on a Christmas tree farm that her father bought from his clients. Taylor Alison Swift was born on December 13, 1989, at the Reading Hospital in West Reading, Pennsylvania. The singer-songwriter got named after singer-songwriter James Taylor.
She was born to Scott Kingsley Swift (father), a former stockbroker for Merrill Lynch) and Andrea Gardner Swift (mother), a former homemaker who previously worked a mutual fund marketing executive. Swift is recognized as a Christian.
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Austin Swift who is an actor is the younger brother of Taylor Swift. The music talent was something that was passed on as Taylor’s maternal grandmother, Majorie Finlay, was an opera singer.
She had her preschool and kindergarten education at the Alvernia Montessori School, Reading, Pennsylvania before moving to Wyndcroft School, Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Later Taylor’s family relocated to a rented house in the suburban town of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, where she attended Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School.
She became interested in musical theater at age nine and performed in four Berks Youth Theatre Academy productions. Her interest in musical theater propelled her into travelling always to New York City for vocal and acting lessons.
Along the line, she shifted her attention to country music which was inspired by listening to Shania Twain’s songs. She was often performing during the weekends at local festivals and events.
At the age of eleven, swift travelled with her mother to Nashville records labels and submitted demo tapes of Dolly Parton and The Chicks karaoke covers after she felt it was the right move to make.
Unfortunately for her, she was rejected because she felt everyone in the town was doing what she wanted to do so she had to switch to do something different.
Computer repairman and local musician, Ronnie Cremer taught her to play guitar when she was around 12 years old. He also supported her to write her first song “Lucky You” as a songwriter. In 2013, the singer and her parents started work with New York-based talent manager Dan Dymtrow.
Through his efforts, Taylor modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch as part of their “Rising Stars” campaign. She also had an original song listed on a Maybelline compilation CD and got to meet with several top record labels with the help of Dan Dymtrow.
At age 13, Taylor Swift received an artiste development deal after she performed original songs at an RCA Records event and started travelling regularly to Nashville with her mother. To help Taylor in her music industry, her father transferred to Merril Lynch’s Nashville office when she was 14 years old.
The family relocated to Hendersonville, Tennessee where she attended Henderson High School, after two years, she moved to Aaron Academy which help her touring schedule through homeschooling. She graduated one year earlier.
Music Career
Taylor Swift started active music in 2004 where she worked with talented Music Row songwriters like the Warren Brothers, Troy Verges, Brett Beavers, Brett James and Mac McAnally. They were having two-hour writing sessions every Tuesday afternoon after school.
She became good in writing original songs and was signed by the Sony/ATV Tree publishing house. This made her the youngest artist to be signed by them but she left the label when she was 14 years old.
In 2005, Scott Borchetta then executive of DreamWorks Records signed Taylor to her record label Big Machine Records after noticing her performance at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe and was their first signing. Her father had a share of 3% in the company which was estimated around $120,000.
‘Taylor Swift’
She released her first album titled “Taylor Swift” in October 24, 2006 which picked the 5th position on the U.S. Billboard 200 and stay there for 157 weeks. This made her the first female country music artist to write or co-write all the songs on a U.S platinum-certified album.
‘Fearless’
On November 11, 2008, Swift released her second studio album, “Fearless”. This album topped the Billboard 200 at number one and was reported as the best selling album in 2009 in the U.S. She also countered it with a headline concert tour which was believed to have earned her over $63 million.
- “Fearless” was named Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2009 Country Music Association Awards.
- She was the youngest artist to win Album of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
‘Speak Now’ and ‘Red’
On October 25, 2010, she released her third studio album “Speak Now” which contained 14 songs. The album took the number one spot on Billboard 200 and became the fastest-selling digital album by a female artist with first-week sales of one million copies, 278,000 downloads in a week and gaining an entry into the 2010 Guinness World Records.
She won several awards with “Speak Now” including Songwriter/Artist of the Year by the Nashville Songwriters Association in 2010 and 2011.
In August 2012, she released ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” off her fourth studio album, “Red”. The song become her first number one in the U.S and New Zealand and got the top spot on iTunes digital song sales chart 50 minutes after it was released. This earned her the fastest selling single in digital history Guinness World Record.
‘1989’ and ‘Reputation’
Swift released her fifth album “1989” on October 27, 2014 which had “Shake It Off”, “Blank Space” “Out of the Style”, “Wildest Dreams” and “Bad Blood” on it. She worked with several producers like Jack Antonoff, max Martin, Shellback, Imogen Heap, Ryan Tedder and Ali Payami on the album.
She released a single “Look What You Made Me Do” off her sixth album “Reputation” (released on November 10, 2017). The album debuted top spot on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 1.21 million copies. With this achievement, Swift became the first act to have four albums sell one million copies within one week in the U.S.
‘Lover’, ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’
Swift’s last album with Big Machine was Reputation. In November 2018, she signed a new deal with the Universal Music Group and released her seventh album, “Lover” on August 29, 2019. With her seventh album, “Lover”, she became the first female artist to have a sixth consecutive album sell more than 500,000 copies in one week in the U.S.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she released two albums, “Folklore” on July, 24 and “Evermore on December, 2020 and they won her several awards. She was 2020’s highest-paid musician in the U.S., and the world’s highest-paid solo musician.
Re-recorder album (Taylor’s Version) and ‘Midnights’
Swift released two re-recorded albums in 2021 amidst her issues of her masters, adding “Taylor’s Version” to their titles. They included Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red released on November 12.
In 2022, she released her tenth album “Midnights”
Acting
The singer-songwriter made her first television acting debut in 2009 on CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). She played the role of a rebellion teenager and also hosted and performed as the musical guest on an episode of Saturday Night Live, becoming the first host to write her own opening monologue.
In 2013, swift recorded wrote and produce “Sweeter than Fiction” with Jack Antonoff for the One Chance film track. She guest voiced for Tim McGraw’s song “High Way Don’t Care” and also voiced Audrey in the animated film “The Lorax” (2012), made a cameo in the sitcom “New Girl” (2013) and supporting role in the dystopian drama film “The Giver” (2014).
She played the role of Bombalurina in the movie adaption of Andrew Lloyd Wbber’s musical “Cats” in 2019, which she co-wrote and recorded the Golden Globe-nominated original song “Beautiful Ghosts”.
Filmography
- Valentine’s Day (2010)
- Journey to Fearless (2010)
- The Lorax (2012)
- The Giver (2014)
- The 1989 World Tour Live (2015)
- Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour (2018)
- Cats (2019)
- Miss Americana (2020)
- City of Lover (2020)
- Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020)
- All Too Well: The Short Film (2021)
- Amsterdam (2022)
Awards
- Academy of Country Music Awards (8)
- ADG Excellence in Production Design Awards (1)
- American Country Awards (4)
- American Music Awards (34)
- Apple Music Awards (1)
- ARIA Music Awards (2)
- A2IM Libera Awards (1)
- Attitude Awards (1)
- BBC Music Awards (1)
- BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards (1)
- Billboard Music Awards (29)
- Billboard Touring Awards (4)
- Billboard Women in Music (3)
- Billboard Year-End Awards (1)
- BMI Country Awards (25)
- BMI London Awards (4)
- BMI Pop Awards (4)
- Bravo Otto (2)
- Brit Awards (2)
- BuzzAngle Music Awards (7)
- Canadian Country Music Association (5)
- Canadian Fragrance Awards (1)
- Capricho Awards (1)
- CD Shop Awards (1)
- Channel V Thailand Music Video Awards (1)
- Clio Awards (2)
- Country Music Association Awards (12)
- Country Music Awards of Australia (1)
- CMT Artists Of The Year (2)
- CMC Music Awards (3)
- CMT Music Awards (7)
- Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards (1)
- Dance Magazine Awards (1)
- Danish Music Awards (1)
- Do Something Awards (1)
- Elle Style Awards (1)
- FiFi Awards (2)
- GLAAD Media Awards (1)
- Glamour Awards (1)
- Golden Boot Awards (1)
- Gracie Awards (1)
- Grammy Awards (11)
- Grand Remi Awards (1)
- Guinness World Records (58)
- Hito Music Awards (4)
- IFPI Global Recording Artist of the Year Awards (2)
- iHeartRadio Music Awards (13)
- iHeartRadio Titanium Award (2)
- Japan Gold Disc Awards (6)
- Joox Indonesia Music Awards (1)
- LOS40 Music Awards (1)
- MTV Europe Music Awards (8)
- MTV Millennial Awards (2)
- MTV Millennial Awards Brazil (1)
- MTV Video Music Awards (14)
- MTV Video Music Awards Japan (1)
- MTVU Woodie Awards (1)
- Much Music Video Awards (1)
- Music Business Association (1)
- MusicDaily Awards Hungary (1)
- Myx Music Awards (3)
- Nashville Songwriter Awards (11)
- Nashville Symphony Ball (1)
- National Music Publishers’ Association (1)
- NetEase Annual Music Awards (3)
- Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (5)
- NME Awards (3)
- Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services (1)
- NRJ Music Awards (2)
- O Music Awards (1)
- OFM Music Awards (1)
- People’s Choice Awards (13)
- Pollstar Awards (1)
- Popstar! Poptastic Awards (1)
- Primetime Emmy Awards (1)
- Q Awards (1)
- Radio Disney Music Awards (8)
- RFK Center (1)
- RTHK International Pop Poll Awards (18)
- Satellite Awards (1)
- Shorty Awards (2)
- SiriusXM Indie Awards (3)
- Songwriters Hall of Fame (1)
- Teen Choice Awards (26)
- Telehit Awards (3)
- Tencent Music Entertainment Awards (2)
- Ticketmaster Awards (2)
- UK Music Video Awards (2)
- V Chart Awards (8)
- Weibo Starlight Awards (3)
- Young Hollywood Awards (1)
- YouTube Music Awards (2)
Accolades and Achievements
- Taylor became the youngest artist to win the Album of the Year, holding the record for eleven years, until 2020.
- She was included in the list of 100 most influential people by Time Mazagine in 2010, 2015 and 2019.
- Currently, Taylor holds the record of being the only person to have won the Video of the Year award thrice.
- Taylor Swift became the second artist after Michael Jackson in the history of BMI to be honored with an award named after its recipient.
- She became the first woman to be awarded Artist of the Decade.
- Taylor is also the most awarded artist in AMAs history with 32 awards.
- First female Brits Global Icon Award winner.
- She currently holds records for most Billboard Music Award wins for a female artist with 25 awards.
- Swift became the first woman and fourth artist overall to win the Album of the Year thrice.
Other Achievements
2008
- Most Entries in the U.S. Top-20 in a Year by a Solo Artist
2009
- Most Simultaneous Top-20 Entries on U.S. Digital chart.
- Youngest Country Entertainer of the Year.
2010
- Youngest Country Entertainer of the Year.
- Youngest Album of the Year winner at the Grammy Awards.
- Youngest Solo Artist to win Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards.
- Fastest-Selling U.S. Digital Download by a Female.
- Fastest Selling Digital Album by a Female Artist.
- Fastest-Selling Album in the U.S. by a Female Country Artist.
- Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 Hits by A Female.
- First Artist to Have Singles Enter the Top 10 of the U.S. Hot 100 in Successive Weeks.
- First Artist in U.S. Chart History to Have Seven Singles Debut in the Top 10 of the Hot 100.
2012
- First Solo Female with Two Million-Selling Weeks on the U.S. Albums Chart.
- Fastest Selling Single in Digital History.
2014
- Most Million-Selling Weeks on the U.S. Albums Chart with Three Consecutive Albums.
- 2015
- Most Teen Choice Awards won by an Individual.
- Most Teen Choice Awards won by a Female.
- Most Teen Choice Awards won by a Musician.
- Most Teen Choice Awards won by a Female Musician.
- Most Million-Selling Weeks on U.S. Albums Charts.
- Highest Earning Couple in Hollywood.
2016
- Highest Annual Earnings for a Female Musician Ever
- Most Viewed Music Video Online (Female Artist).
2017
- Most Million-Selling Weeks on U.S. Albums Charts.
2018
- Most Streamed Track in One Week (Female).
- Most Watched Video Online in 24 Hours.
- Most Streamed Track on Spotify in the First 24 Hours.
- Most Watched Vevo video in 24 Hours.
- Highest Grossing Music Tour by a Female Artist.
2019
- Highest Annual Earnings for a Female Musician Ever.
- Highest Annual Earnings for a Musician.
- Highest Annual Earnings for a Musician (Female).
- Highest-Earning Living Celebrity.
- Highest-Earning Living Celebrity (Female).
- Most Weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Artist 100 Chart.
- Most American Music Awards wom by a Female Artist.
- Most American Music Awards won.
- Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 Entries by a Female.
- Most Global Recording Artist of the Year (IFPI) awards won.
- Biggest-Selling Album Worldwide For A Solo Artist.
2020
- Most Day-One Streams of An Album On Spotify (Female).
- Most Cumulative Weeks at No.1 on U.S. Albums Chart by a Solo Female.
- Shortest Gap Between New No.1 Albums on the U.S. Billboard 200 (Female).
2021
- Most Number-ones on the U.S. Digital Song Sales chart.
- Most Album of the Year awards won at the Grammys by a vocalist.
- Most Album of the Year awards won at the Grammys (Female).
- First female Brits Global Icon Award winner.
- Youngest Brits Global Icon Award winner.
- Most Day-one Streams of An Album on Spotify (Female).
- Most Streamed Act on Spotify in 24 Hours (Female).
- Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 New Entries.
- Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 New Entries by a Solo Act.
- Most Simultaneous U.S. Hot 100 Entries by a Female.
- Longest Song to Reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
2022
- Highest Annual Earnings for a Female Musician.
- Most Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards nominations for an Individual.
Relationships
She was in a relationship with;
- Brandon Borello in 2005.
- Sam Armstrong in 2006.
- American Singer, Joe Jonas in 2008.
- American Actor, Lucas Till in 2009.
- American singer-songwriter, John Mayer in 2009.
- American Actor, Taylor Launter in 2009.
- Actor Toby Hemingway in 2010.
- Actor, Jake Gyllenhaal in 2010.
- Social Activist, Conor Kennedy
- Singer-Songwriter Harry Styles from 2012 – 2013.
- Scottish DJ and record producer Calvin Harris from 2015 to 2016.
- Song-songwriter, Tom Hiddleston in 2016.
- Joe Alwyn in 2016.
Net Worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth estimates, Swift’s net worth is $400 million as of 2022.
FAQ
Is Taylor Swift married to Joe Alwyn?
They have been dating since 2016 and recently it was rumored that they are engaged and will married. Taylor and Alwyn are still in relationship and not yet married.
What is Taylor Swift’s ethnicity ?
She is of a Scottish and German decent.
What’s Taylor Swift’s favorite color?
Red
What’s Taylor Swift’s favorite food?
She loves burgers, grilled chicken with different marinades, garlic beans, carrot and broccoli.
What is Taylor Swift’s first hit song?
Tim McGraw
