It’s impossible not to smile while reminiscing about 17-year-old Taylor Swift nervously yet boldly performing her debut single ‘Tim McGraw‘ at the 2007 ACM Awards, singing directly to its namesake, country star Tim McGraw. Though a little rough around the edges, the spark of her undeniable talent was palpable.
However, far beyond her skills as a songwriter, it was sheer impertinence to perform a song named after one of country music’s icons in front of him, and all of their peer group, on live TV. That proved she has the guts and the prescience to take all her talent to the limit. Today, as she has been named Billboard’s 2nd Greatest Pop Star of the 21st Century, here’s how she was propelled to stardom.
How Taylor Swift Began Her Iconic Journey To Stardom
Taylor Swift’s 2007 moxie, coupled with her songwriting genius, helped her propel into meteoric stardom. Starting out from the ground up, Swift became one of the most successful artists in recent music history. Her sharp lyrics, not to mention her personality being relatable, helped push away the traditional “sexy pop star” mold against which she positioned herself as being awkward and romantic to the millions of young listeners.
Today, Swift holds an incredible list of achievements: she’s won four ‘Album of the Year‘ Grammy Awards, making her the only person to ever do so, tied with Jay-Z for the second-most number one albums on the Billboard 200, second only to The Beatles, and boasts the second-most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, behind only Drake.
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Her ‘Eras Tour‘ broke records in 2023, becoming the highest-grossing tour of all time, setting attendance records, and boosting local economies across the globe. She’s also the only female artist to become a billionaire primarily through music alone.
What Makes Taylor Swift Stand Apart?
Taylor Swift’s beginnings may be humble, but her legacy is now legendary. Born on December 13, 1989, in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, to a Christmas tree farm upbringing, she was destined for greatness from the start. After moving to Nashville as a teenager, Swift’s persistence and dedication paid off when she was discovered at the Bluebird Café by Scott Borchetta, leading to her debut album, ‘Taylor Swift‘, in 2006.
That album marked the beginning of her brick-by-brick climb in the industry, long before social media virality became the norm for launching careers. The fans were mostly teenage girls who went on to listen to all of Swift’s songs, view her vlogs, and seek her as a role model.
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The personal touch of Swift included things such as planting secret messages in the album booklets to solidify the bond she shared with her fans. While that early success may seem a distant memory in the face of today’s overwhelming fame, it was that same work ethic and business instinct that carried her from country sweetheart to the world’s biggest pop star.
And with all due respect to Tim McGraw, when millions of people hear his name today, the first thing they think of is Taylor Swift.
