Taylor Swift is a musical force that the world has not seen in quite a long time.
Some fast facts about Taylor Swift. First and foremost, Taylor Swift is 34 years old and was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. She knew from an early age that she wanted to be creative and sing.
Taylor Swift before becoming one spent her early years growing up on her family’s Christmas tree farm. Her family life was traditional and full of love and support. Today, Taylor Swift is a force in music.
Taylor Swift is breaking records, Swift’s sixth concert tour is so popular that it has earned more than this year’s next two biggest tours by Beyonce and Bruce Springsteen combined.
Overall, many may not know these facts about Swift. These are the life events and facts that many do not realize about Taylor Swift. Learn more about Taylor Swift, the American woman who became the best selling and most successful music artist of her time.
Let’s learn more about Taylor Swift below!
1. Taylor Swift made history as a female artist
In terms of records, Taylor Swift has broken some records for sales. Still as of today, in 20224, Taylor Swift has the most Number 1 albums.
Taylor Swift’s success is unparalleled in the music industry for a female artist especially of her young age. Swift, simply by getting her 12th number 1 single with the song “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” This song meant that Swift had surpassed the former record holder in the music industry. The previous record was held by Barbra Streisand, who had 11 number 1’s.
All in all, Swift is the first living artist, male or female, in almost 60 years with four concurrent albums in the top 10 at one time in the USA. This is a major record that shows how powerful and successful she has become overall. Swift’s recent success continues with her world tour as she has already sold out stadiums during her “Eras Tour.” Lastly, Swift had at one point 11 albums concurrently charting on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States.
2. Taylor Swift is originally from Pennsylvania and other states
At birth, Taylor Swift’s original name in full was Taylor Alison Swift. So, her name is close to what many people know and she grew up in the state of Pennsylvania in a town called Reading. Taylor Swift also moved to Tennessee to further pursue her artistic dreams.
Swift’s parent’s names are Andrea Finlay and Scott Kingsley Swift, and they were instrumental in shaping her musical and artistic career.
In Reading, Pennsylvania the family had a traditional American upbringing. Swift’s father was a stockbroker, while her mother was a homemaker. Before becoming a massive star, Swift spent her early years growing up on her family’s Christmas tree farm. A true picture of Americana.
From there, they brought them up and raised Taylor and her younger brother, Austin in Pennsylvania. Before Taylor’s Nashville years, Swift lived in a Georgian Colonial style home and grew up in a very traditional American setting.
The childhood home of Swift was very inspiring and comforting for Swift. For example, her home in Pennsylvania inspired her to write the songs “Seven” and “The Best Day.”
3. Taylor Swift's Eras Tour is the highest-grossing music tour ever in the world
Taylor Swift is well known for her singles success however she has always taken the time to tour, which has been very successful for her. Why? Because Swift became the first artist to surpass $1 billion dollars in revenue while doing a music tour. It is really an incredible feat.
Taylor’s tours have been numerous and profitable as well because Swift shows she cares for her fans. For example, her last tour began in March of 2023 and is still ongoing.
This tour will eventually conclude and end in December 2024 after a total of over 150 shows worldwide. The amount of time and energy she puts into her shows is quite intense and productive. This tour so far, has earned $1.04 billion to date, according to research data like Pollstar.
In the past, the previous record was set by Elton John’s five-year farewell tour. His tour brought in $939 million over 328 shows compared to Swift’s success with less than half of the number of shows in total. This shows how popular Swift is overall.
4. Taylor Swift’s Grandmother inspired her to become a singer
Swift’s family was very active in trying to make her homelife and childhood comfortable, engaging and ultimately creative.
Swift’s grandmother was Marjorie Moehlenkamp Finlay. She was an opera singer and television personality at one time. Her presence and legend within the family was very inspiring for Taylor Swift. In terms of Swift’s grandmother’s training, she was deemed a coloratura soprano. Finlay performed and was involved with concert, opera, and more as a singer. Swift’s grandmother won a talent contest in 1950. Moreover, her grandmother even toured with an ABC radio network show, which really was instrumental to inspiring Swift and her musical career.
Swift has shown a lot of love and regards towards her family. Because she often is referencing her parents, Scott and Andrea, in songs. These songs really helped define since her career began. Swift had accomplished this in songs like “The Best Day” and “Never Grow Up.”
5. Taylor Swift is a big fan of literature
Many may not know but Taylor Swift is a fan and lover of literature. Taylor Swift is renowned for her storytelling prowess and poetic sensibility. Literature is not as popular these days for younger people and Swift shows a love and care for this part of the culture.
In her songs, Swift has managed to refer to literature points that may surprise you being a pop star. For example, her lyrics reference well known novels by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Kurt Vonnegut, and many more.
Taylor's love for literature is a big factor of what makes her unique in the pop music landscape especially as a female vocalist. Her songwriting, with references to famous works and authors sets her apart. Swift’s lyrics are sprinkled with literary devices and references, thus showing her deep appreciation for the written word.
Even critically, literature scholars like Jonathan Bate and others have brought up that her literary and melodic tendency and writing style are rare amongst her peers in the American pop music scene.
6. Taylor Swift’s early influences are Shania Twain and Britney Spears
In general, Taylor Swift had a lot of support and engagement as a child. However, two artists stand out for Swift in terms of influence and overall impact in her life.
First one for Swift is Shania Twain, she is one of country music's pioneering female forces.
Twain is mostly known and popular for her punchy, empowering female anthems, such as “Man! I Feel Like A Woman,” These songs were very inspirational for Swift especially songs like “Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You),” and “Party For Two,” Twain along with Britney Spears were big influences overall.
Her early influences really shaped how she viewed pop music and became a pop sensation early on in her career. Today, Swift has surpassed Shania Twain in sales and influences and even Britney Spears.
7. Taylor relocated to Nashville for her career
Taylor Swift really wanted to be a musician and in particular a pop star. The amount of dedication Swift gave for her dreams is unreal. Why? Because Taylor Swift encouraged her own family to relocate to Nashville for her career. Swift was inspired after watching a Faith Hill documentary to get motivated to move out of Pennsylvania.
Swift had a lot of influence being raised on Faith Hill and Shania Twain. She felt growing up in Pennsylvania that perhaps being in Nashville would be better for her career. Therefore, Swift moved to Nashville as a 14-year-old with big dreams. It was an unusual move that proved to be very successful and defining for Swift.
Swift eventually got noticed and was signed because of moving and being based in Nashville. Swift was aiming to make her songwriting dreams a reality and career. Nashville has always been an important place for music in the USA and in the years that Swift moved there it was blossoming.
Swift spent and performed at the Bluebird Cafe where she would sing early songs that would later develop in her pop discography. Eventually, Swift got the attention and notice of Nashville producers like Scott Borchetta. In the end, a record executive who signed and initially promoted Swift to a growing label called Big Machine.
8. Taylor wrote a book when she was a child
Not many younger artists can claim to have written a book as a child. However, Taylor Swift is one that has been able to defy people’s expectations of her by being an author. However, the book is still a secret for the lucky few who know her because it has not been released.
Apparently, Taylor had written as a child a 350-page novel. The whereabouts of this novel are still in question but we do know that she was 12 when she wrote the novel. As of now, Swift’s book has never been published.
Recently, Swift has been writing and sharing her poems. Swift has taken the time to publish two original poems: “Why She Disappeared” and “If You're Anything Like Me”. Swift’s potential is huge in terms of her own grasp of her musical, acting and of course writing talent.
9. Taylor Swift made her acting debut in 2009 early in her career
Taylor Swift is not only a musician and singer but an artist and actress. Swift can not be compared to Lady Gaga who has been in various movies from Gucci and even starred in movies as the main actress.
It was in 2009 that Swift was in an episode of CSI. In the past, Taylor was involved with the Valentine's Day episode in October 2009. As well, Swift dated co-star Taylor Lautner. Swift is also well known for her dating life and relationships as well.
On television, Swift eventually would make her debut as a rebellious teenager in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation show. Moreover, Taylor Swift’s acting continued when she hosted and performed as a musical guest on the New York city based show called Saturday Night Live. More incredibly, Taylor Swift was the first host to write their own opening script and monologue.
This shows how she even has the potential to act in the future. But, this has not been a recent development to develop further unlike the very successful Lady Gaga who acts and sings on a regular basis.
10. Taylor Swift has written songs for other artists like Lady Gaga
Taylor Swift is not only a songwriter on her own, but she has written songs for other artists. Specifically, Taylor has written and been involved in songs for other artists long before even her own career. Swift has been involved in writing songs like “You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home” for the Hannah Montana movie and “Better Man” for Little Big Town.
She is well known for her own songs, but Swift has taken the time to write for other artists. Swift is able to play many instruments from piano to ukulele. And even she has tried her hand with production as well.
