Taylor Swift Biography



Taylor Swift
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

This article may require copy-editing for cohesion.. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (January 2008)
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift performing live in 2007.
Taylor Swift performing live in 2007.
Background information
Birth name Taylor Alison Swift
Born December 13, 1989 (1989-12-13) (age 19)
Origin Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, United States
Genre(s) Country pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s) Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active 2006 – present
Label(s) Big Machine
Associated acts Kellie Pickler, Colbie Caillat
Website TaylorSwift.com

Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American country pop singer. Signed to the independent Big Machine Records label in 2006, she made her debut on the Billboard country charts with the release of her debut single "Tim McGraw". This song, which peaked at #6, was the first of five singles from her self-titled debut, which was released in late 2006 and re-issued in 2007, and has been certified 3× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. Following "Tim McGraw" were the #2 "Teardrops on My Guitar", the six-week Number One "Our Song", the #3 "Picture to Burn" and another Number One in "Should've Said No". All five singles from her debut were Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, as was her song "Change" from the AT&T TEAM USA Soundtrack. Her second album, Fearless, was released on November 11, 2008 and its lead-off single "Love Story" has become her highest Hot 100 hit. The New York Times described Swift as "one of pop’s finest songwriters, country’s foremost pragmatist and more in touch with her inner life than most adults".1 According to Nielsen SoundScan, with a combined sales of more than four million albums sold, Swift is the biggest selling artist of 2008 in America. Swift's Fearless and her self-titled album finished 2008 at #3 and #6 respectively with sales of 2.1 and 1.5 million. This is the first time in the history of Nielsen SoundScan one artist had two different albums in the Top 10 on the year end album chart.2

Contents

Early life

Swift was born in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Scott and Andrea Swift. She has one younger brother, Austin.3 Swift grew up on a Christmas tree farm outside of Reading, Pennsylvania, the daughter of a stock broker father and stay-at-home mother. When she was in fourth grade, Swift won a national poetry contest with a three-page long poem entitled "Monster In My Closet".45 At the age of ten, Swift began to perform around her home town, singing at karaoke contests, festivals, and fairs, and also started writing songs.

Career

Early work

Swift's singing influences include her grandmother and LeAnn Rimes.6 Although her grandmother was a professional opera singer,7 Taylor's tastes always ran more toward country and she developed a love for Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton at an early age.8 She also credits the Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain for demonstrating how much impact can be made by "stretching boundaries".9

At age eleven, Swift made her first trip to Nashville hoping to obtain a record deal by distributing a demo tape of her singing with karaoke songs. She gave a copy to every label on Music Row.6 Swift faced rejection, not just from record labels, but also from her peers.10 After Swift returned to Pennsylvania, she was asked to sing at the U.S. Open tennis tournament; her rendition of the national anthem received a lot of attention.11

Swift started writing songs and playing 12-string guitar when she was twelve. Swift began to regularly visit Nashville and wrote songs with local songwriters. By the time she was fourteen, her family decided to move to an outlying Nashville suburb.12 When Swift was fifteen, she rejected a development deal with RCA Records because the company refused to allow her to record her own songs.13 Swift then performed at Nashville's songwriters' venue, The Bluebird Cafécitation needed, catching the attention of Scott Borchettacitation needed who signed her to his newly-formed record label, Big Machine Records. She also became the youngest staff songwriter ever hired by the Sony/ATV Tree publishing house.14

Taylor Swift performing at a café with a koa wood guitar.

Swift plays a Taylor Grand Auditorium acoustic guitar made of koa wood.citation needed

Music career

2006–2008: Debut album Taylor Swift

Swift's first single, "Tim McGraw", was released to radio in Summer of 2006 and on October 24, 2006, her self-titled album was released. Swift wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the album, which debuted at number 19 on the Billboard 200 and sold just 39,000 copies during its first week.15 It later peaked at number one at Billboard Top Country Albums and number fivecitation needed at Billboard 200. It also spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the Top Country Albums chartscitation needed and remained at the top for 24 out of 91 weeks.16 The only other country artists this decade to achieve the number-one sales position for 20 weeks or more are The Dixie Chicks and Carrie Underwood.17 As of November 2008, Taylor Swift has sold over three million copies and 7.5 million single downloads.18

Swift has surpassed the 137 million mark for music streams on MySpace. She is currently ranked in the Top 10 for the most MySpace visits for all genres of music, and is MySpace's current top-ranking Country artist.19dead link Swift is the most searched musical artist on MySpace in 2008.20

Taylor Swift performing in 2007.

Regarding "Tim McGraw", Swift said, "I wrote the song in my freshman year of high school. I was dating a guy who was about to go off to college. I knew we were going to break up so I started thinking of all the things that I knew would remind him of me. Surprisingly, the first thing that came to mind was that my favorite country artist is Tim McGraw."8 "Tim McGraw" peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts for the week of January 27, 2007. The song's music video set a record by appearing for 30 consecutive weeks on GAC's fan-voted weekly Top 20 music countdown show, and reached number one on CMT's video charts. The video also won Swift an award for Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2007 CMT Music Awards.21 Her pursuit of country music stardom was the subject of "GAC Short Cuts", a part-documentary, part-music-video series airing since the summer of 2006 on the country music channel.22

On May 15, 2007, Swift performed "Tim McGraw" at the Academy of Country Music Awards. She sang the song to Tim McGraw in the audience, and introduced herself for the first time to him. Swift has been an opening act for Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on their Soul2Soul 2007 tour. She has opened in the past for George Strait, Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts as well.23 On August 21, 2007, Swift performed live on the season finale of America's Got Talent.24

The second single from the Taylor Swift album, "Teardrops on My Guitar", was released February 24, 2007. The song was inspired by a true event during her time in high school in which she liked a boy named "Drew Hardwick." He only saw Swift as a friend and a go-to person for advice about his relationship with his girlfriend. She noted she heard "through the grapevine" that Drew is well aware the song was written about him.25 "Teardrops on My Guitar" originally made its peak positions in Summer 2007, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Country Chart and #33 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was re-released to the Hot 100 and Pop 100 in late 2007 with a Pop remix that brought "Teardrops on My Guitar" to #13 on the Hot 100 and #11 on the Pop 100.

In October 2007, Swift's songwriting peers at the Nashville Songwriters Association International honored her with their Songwriter/Artist of the Year Award, making her the youngest artist ever to win the award.26

On November 7, 2007, Swift won the 2007 CMA Horizon Award and also performed "Our Song," the third single from her album, which would go on to become her first #1 song the week of December 22, 2007, where it leaped up from the #6 spot. This was the biggest jump to Number One since January 1998, when Tim McGraw's "Just to See You Smile", also jumped from #6 to #1.27 "Our Song" spent six weeks at #1 on the Country charts and also peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #24 on the Billboard Pop 100.

Swift also recorded a holiday album, Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection, that was released October 16, 2007, exclusively available at Target stores. The album, which was not as successful as her self-titled debut, featured both holiday classics such as "Last Christmas" and original songs written by Swift.

Swift was nominated for a 2008 Grammy Award in the category of Best New Artist, but lost to Amy Winehouse. Swift's successful single, "Picture to Burn" was the fourth single from her debut album. The song debuted early in 2008 and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Country Chart in the spring of 2008.

Swift was cover girl of Seventeen in the June 2008 issue. She was also named number fifty-two on Maxim's sexiest women of '08.

Big Machine Records announced the release of "Should've Said No" on Monday, May 19. The song is the fifth and final single from Swift's debut album. She performed it on 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.28 The performance started off with her dressed in a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, but soon after a short black halter dress was revealed. In the last minute of the song, she went backstage to perform the final verse under a cascading waterfall. Swift had wanted to do that performance on stage with the water and the change of clothes since she was ten years old.29

In Summer 2008, Swift released Beautiful Eyes, an EP sold exclusively at Wal-Mart.30 In its first week of release, the album sold 45,000 copies, debuting at #1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and #9 on the Billboard 200. With her self-titled debut album at #2 the same week, Swift became the first artist to hold the Top 2 positions of the Top Country Albums chart since LeAnn Rimes did so in 1997.31

In July 2008, Swift graduated from the Aaron Academy, a Christian school in Hendersonville, TN which offers a home schooling program.32 "Should've Said No" became her second Number One single for the chart dated August 23, 2008.

2008–present: Fearless

Swift's latest studio album, Fearless, was released in the United States on November 11, 2008.33 The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Its sales of 592,304 was the highest debut of any country artists in 2008. This is also the largest opening U.S. sales week in 2008 by a female artist in all genres of music, and the fourth biggest overall, behind Lil Wayne, AC/DC and Coldplay.34

During the first week of release, more than 129,000 of Swift’s sales were sold digitally. This gives Swift the best online start for any country album in history.35 It also makes Swift the fourth biggest week for a digital album since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking them in 2004.36

In its debut week, seven songs in total on Fearless were charted on Billboard Hot 100, tying Swift with Hannah Montana for the most by a female artist in a single week. With White Horse charted at #13, this gave Swift her sixth top 20 debut of 2008, a calendar year record for any artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100. Of the 13 tracks on Fearless, 11 have already spent time on the Hot 100.36

"Change", a song from the album, was selected as part of a soundtrack supporting Team USA's efforts in the 2008 Summer Olympics.31 The song was also featured as part of the soundtrack of NBC's broadcast package of the Games. She also released the lead single from the album, "Love Story", on September 12, 2008. The song is accompanied by a music video that is based on Romeo and Juliet. The song has reached #2 on iTunes Store Top Downloaded Songs and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single from Fearless "White Horse", released 8 December, 2008.

Swift is Billboard's Top Country Artist and Hot Country Songwriter of 2008; she is also country music's best-selling artist of 2008.37

Swift sang the Star-Spangled Banner at game three of the World Series in Philadelphia, October 25, 2008.

Philanthropy

On September 21, 2007, Swift launched a campaign to protect children from online predators.38 Swift has teamed up with Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen to combat internet sex crimes.38

The year-long campaign, launched in partnership with the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, will distribute Internet safety information and materials to parents and students across the state.38

Personal life

Swift once dated singer Joe Jonas.39 Swift wrote the song "Forever & Always" about Joe Jonas, and the song appeared on her album, Fearless.40 It was the last song that she had recorded, and it was a last minute addition to her album.

Discography

Main article: Taylor Swift discography
Albums
EPs

Filmography

Year Title Role Other notes
2007 "Online" - Brad Paisley's Music Video Herself Cameo
2008 MTV's Once Upon a Prom Herself List of programs broadcast by MTV41
2009 Hannah Montana: The Movie Herself Cameo42
2009 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience Herself

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Taylor Swift

References

  1. ^ "Sounds of Swagger and Sob Stories". The New York Times (2008-12-19). Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
  2. ^ "2008 U.S. Music Purchases Exceed 1.5 Billion; Growth in Overall Music Purchases Exceeds 10%". Market Watch (2008-12-31). Retrieved on 2009-01-01.
  3. ^ Taylor Swift Biography | TVGuide.com
  4. ^ "The Unabridged Taylor Swift". Rolling Stone (2008-12-02). Retrieved on 2008-12-17.
  5. ^ "Taylor Swift: Growing into superstardom". Reading Eagle (2008-12-08). Retrieved on 2008-12-17.
  6. ^ a b Life in the Swift Lane
  7. ^ Taylor Swift Biography at GAC
  8. ^ a b Taylor Swift at Ask Men.com
  9. ^ McCafferty, Dennis (2008-04-13). "Taylor's swift rise", USA WEEKEND. 
  10. ^ http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,,GAC_26063_5938171,00.html
  11. ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/16/earlyshow/saturday/secondcup/main4103339.shtml
  12. ^ "Taylor Swift biography at Allmusic". Retrieved on 2007-04-30.
  13. ^ http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20081111/ENT01/811110317/1005/NEWS01
  14. ^ http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dan_deluca/20081111_Taylor_Swift__focused_on__great_songs_.html
  15. ^ "Taylor Swift Scores First Chart-Topping Debut With Fearless". MTV.com (2008-11-19). Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
  16. ^ "Taylor Swift Bumps Herself Out of No. 1 Slot". CMT (2008-07-26). Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
  17. ^ "Taylor Swift Tops 50 Million MySpace Streams & Has Country's #1 Selling CD for 20th Week". Universal Music Group (2008-06-24). Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
  18. ^ "Taylor Swift, "Fearless"". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (2008-11-16). Retrieved on 2009-01-02.
  19. ^ Taylor Swift reaches No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart
  20. ^ "MySpace Announces “MYSPACE TOP 8’S OF 2008” Awards". The Social Media Bible (2008-12-16). Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
  21. ^ Taylor Swift at Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum
  22. ^ "GAC Debuts Short Cuts Series with Rising Star Taylor Swift". GACTV.com (2006-05-10). Retrieved on 2009-01-01.
  23. ^ Taylor Swift Joins Tim McGraw, Faith Hill on Tour
  24. ^ Taylor Swift performs on "America's Got Talent"
  25. ^ YouTube - Taylor Swift on The Bus
  26. ^ Cooper, Peter; Aronin, Ivan (2007-10-15). "It's writers' turn to be honored for songs", The Tennessean. Retrieved on 24 November 2007. 
  27. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (2007-12-13). "Keys Still The "One" Atop Billboard Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
  28. ^ Taylor Swift offers new single to radio, ACMs
  29. ^ Taylor Swift Interview, ACMs
  30. ^ "Wal-Mart "Eyes" New Taylor Swift Project". Great American Country. Retrieved on 2008-07-24.
  31. ^ a b "Taylor Swift owns top of country chart". Country Standard Time. Retrieved on 2008-12-26.
  32. ^ "Swift receives her high school diploma, in mail". Embarq Holdings Company (2008-07-26). Retrieved on 2008-07-27.
  33. ^ "Coming attractions: Not all boys make Taylor Swift cry". USA Today. Retrieved on 2008-08-07.
  34. ^ "Taylor Swift's Fearless Makes History With No 1 Debut On Billboard's Top 200 All-Genre Album Sales Chart". TOP 40 Charts (2008-11-20). Retrieved on 2008-12-24.
  35. ^ "No Surprise: Taylor Swift Debuts No. 1". GAC (2008-11-20). Retrieved on 2008-12-24.
  36. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Soars to No.1". Billboard (2008-11-19). Retrieved on 2008-12-24.
  37. ^ "Taylor Swift reaches 5 million in sales, tops Billboard". Country Standard Time (2008-12-17). Retrieved on 2008-12-18.
  38. ^ a b c Taylor Swift Warns Kids About Internet Crime
  39. ^ Taylor Swift on Joe Jonas: "We Don't Talk"
  40. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMouCSGVhOs
  41. ^ Once Upon A Prom | Reality Television Show Cast, Episode Guides, Trailers, Aftershow & Previews | MTV
  42. ^ Taylor Swift to Appear in Hannah Montana Movie - The Hannah Montana Movie, Movie News, Taylor Swift : People.com

External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Taylor Swift
v • d • e
Taylor Swift
Studio albums
EPs
Singles
Digital singles
Related articles
CelebrityTidbits - Celebrity Biographies, Pictures, Videos, Gossip and News.