Taylor Swift
Dec 13, 1989
Singer, songwriter
Supplanting Britney Spears as the newest America’s sweetheart, Taylor Swift has become a household name thanks to the massive success of her music. Even before she hits the big 2s, Swift has already set a number of impressive Billboards records. Her self-titled debut album spawned 5 hit singles and was certified 3X multi-platinum. The Pennsylvanian country singer/songwriter was named the biggest selling artist of 2008, with her debut and sophomore albums bringing in combined sales of four million albums sold. Swift is also the first artiste to have two different albums chart on the Top 10 year end album list.
Adding to her slate of accolades, Fearless is the first album by a female country artist to top the Billboard chart for eight weeks. Swift also holds the record for being the first country artist to cross the 2 million mark in the music download industry. In February, Swift’s single, Love Story topped the Mainstream Top 40 chart, becoming the first country song to do so. Love Story is also ranked at the top for being the country song with the highest number of paid downloads.
While Swift is still young, she has an ample amount of experience to boast. Displaying her flair for writing even at an early age, Swift won a national poetry contest with her “Monster In My Closet” piece. By the age of 10, she began penning her own songs and performing them at singing competitions. Citing the likes of Shania Twain, LeAnn Rimes and Dixie Chicks as her musical influences, Taylor began developing an affinity for country music. When she turned 11, the young and hopeful star distributed a demo tape hoping to ink a record deal. She was rejected.
When she was 15, RCA offered her a development deal which she eventually turned down. Instead of hopping onto the grand opportunity, she rejected the gesture because the company wouldn’t let her record her own songs – a decision that many teenagers her age would not have arrived at. Even at a tender age of 15, Swift had displayed essential swagger qualities. Not one to relinquish her beliefs just to get a shot at fame, Swift stays true to herself.
Swift upholds a level of integrity, as reflected in her conduct and as well as her lyrical masterpieces. Preferring to write about personal experiences in her songs, Swift has built a fan base that enjoys her raw and emotional lyrics. Her debut single, Tim McGraw, is written about an estranged relationship. Her self-titled album, Taylor Swift, made its presence in the Top 20 in its first week, before going to clinch the number 5 spot on the Billboard Charts. The album remained on the top spot at the Top Country Album charts for 20 weeks, a feat held only by Dixie Chicks and Carrie Underwood. Her subsequent singles from the album, Teardrops from my Guitar, Picture to Burn and Should’ve said No enjoyed tremendous success as well, cementing Swift’s status as a country music artist.
In October 2007, she was the honorary recipient of the Nashville Songwriters Association International Songwriter/Artist of the Year award, making her the youngest artist to be bestowed with the award.
With no signs of diminishing fame, Swift proved she was no fleeting one-hit-wonder when she released Fearless to both commercial success and critical acclaim. The album debuted at the #1 spot that week, with sales of nearly 600k copes being sold. Swift now holds the record for the highest debut of any country artists in 2008. 11 out of the 13 tracks on Fearless also made a dent on Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Perhaps one of the highlights in her music career, her song, Change, was included in the soundtrack to support TEAM USA during the 2008 Olympics. By the end of 2008, she was named Billboard’s Top Country Artist and Hot Country Songwriter of 2008. At the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Swift scooped the Album of the Year award for Fearless, making her the youngest artist to win the coveted award. Almost too premature because she is so young, the Academy gifted her with the Crystal Milestone award for all her amazing achievements.
Now that she has pretty much conquered the music scene, Swift is looking to other ventures, namely acting, for even more exposure. She first displayed her acting chops by appearing in Brad Paisely’s music video, Online, and later in her close friend Kellie Pickler’s Best days of your life music video. However, it was her primetime television acting debut that has millions of people talking. In March 2009, she starred in the popular CSI drama, attracting some 20 million viewers.
Riding on the waves of her success, Swift has inked a couple of endorsement deals ranging from the National Hockey League to Nashville Predators. L.e.i. Clothing Line has also designed a line of outfits in Swift’s name. Swift humbly states that she will inspire the clothing line with her own style but does not see it as a foray into designing. We found her conviction to be refreshing, because all too often, as part of a self-fulfilling prophecy, celebrities want to have a hand in every industry. But Swift sees no need in that.
On top of being ingeniously talented, Swift lives up to her reputation as America’s sweetheart. Doing her part for society, Swift has an active voice in charity and is known to use her influential status to benefit young children and teenagers. A generous person, she has donated to children hospital and to the Red Cross on numerous occasions. In even more meaningful works, she also took it upon herself to launch a campaign to safeguard children from online predators.
It is always baffling to see a young star come into eminence. Taylor Swift has our thumbs up for being such an exemplary role model to her young fans! For the older generation, we can all take a page from her; we should never comprise our beliefs and continue to work hard toward success.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf9cAR3Ut-k]
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