Taylor Alison Swift is a widely popular American singer-songwriter. Her significant influence extends to the music industry, popular culture, and even politics. This impact is achieved through her songwriting, artistry, entrepreneurial ventures, and advocacy efforts. Her devoted fanbase contributes to her widespread public interest.
On December 13, 1989, Taylor Alison Swift was born. She would become an American singer-songwriter with widespread public interest and a vast fanbase.
Following the release of '1989' in 1989, reviews of Taylor Swift's vocals remained mixed as she fully transitioned to pop music. While some critics found her technique lacking, they acknowledged her ability to convey emotion authentically, prioritizing intimacy over vocal power.
In 1989, Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, '1989'. This album marked a clear shift towards 1980s synth-pop, inspired by artists like Phil Collins, Annie Lennox, and Madonna. This solidified her transition from country to pop.
Taylor Swift collaborated with director Joseph Kahn on four music videos from her album "1989".
With the release of '1989' in 1989, Taylor Swift explored themes of nostalgia and post-romance positivity, marking a shift in her songwriting from the focus on heartbreak and insecurities prevalent in her earlier work.
In 2003, Taylor Swift and her parents began working with the talent manager Dan Dymtrow.
Taylor Swift first met Scott Borchetta in 2004.
In 2005, Taylor Swift signed with Big Machine Records.
In 2005, Taylor Swift caught the attention of Scott Borchetta at an industry showcase at Nashville's Bluebird Cafe.
In June 2006, Taylor Swift released her debut single, "Tim McGraw."
In October 2006, Taylor Swift released her self-titled debut album, reaching number five on the US Billboard 200.
Throughout 2006, Taylor Swift began promoting her debut album by performing as the opening act for major country music artists, such as George Strait, Brad Paisley, and Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. This helped her gain exposure to a wider audience and build a following.
Taylor Swift released her debut studio album, 'Taylor Swift', in 2006. This album marked her entry into the country music scene and showcased her early songwriting style influenced by 1990s female country artists.
Taylor Swift released her debut album in 2006, achieving prominence as a country pop singer.
In October 2007, Taylor Swift released her first EP, a compilation of holiday-themed songs titled 'The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection.'
Starting in 2007, Taylor Swift began incorporating a live band into her concert productions and tours.
In 2007, Taylor Swift became the youngest recipient of the Nashville Songwriters Association's Songwriter/Artist of the Year award, a prestigious recognition of her songwriting talent.
In 2007, Taylor Swift partnered with the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police to launch a campaign to protect children from online predators.
Taylor Swift's second EP, 'Beautiful Eyes,' was released in July 2008, featuring new songs and alternate versions of tracks from her self-titled debut album.
Taylor Swift's highly anticipated second studio album, 'Fearless,' hit the shelves in November 2008. The album was an instant success, quickly climbing the charts and showcasing Swift's growth as a songwriter and artist.
In 2008 Taylor Swift briefly dated singer Joe Jonas, a member of the pop-rock band the Jonas Brothers.
In 2008, Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker reviewed Taylor Swift's early performances, calling her a "preternaturally skilled" entertainer with a vibrant stage presence.
In 2008, Taylor Swift released her second studio album, "Fearless," further solidifying her success as a country pop singer.
In 2009, Taylor Swift donated $100,000 to the Red Cross to help the victims of the Iowa flood of 2008.
Following its successful North American launch, 'Fearless' saw its international release in March 2009, further expanding Taylor Swift's global reach and solidifying her status as a rising star.
While filming the movie 'Valentine's Day,' Taylor Swift began a romantic relationship with her co-star Taylor Lautner, who gained recognition for his role in the 'Twilight' saga.
At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video was abruptly interrupted by rapper Kanye West, who claimed that Beyoncé deserved the award instead. The incident quickly became a major controversy and sparked widespread media attention, generating discussion about respect, artistic recognition, and the role of race and gender in the music industry.
In 2009, Taylor Swift sang at BBC's Children in Need concert and raised £13,000 for the cause.
In May 2010, Taylor Swift donated $500,000 in response to the Tennessee floods.
In October 2010, Taylor Swift released her third studio album, 'Speak Now,' Notably, this album marked a significant step in her artistic development as it was written entirely by Swift, showcasing her growth as a songwriter and her ability to connect with listeners through her personal narratives.
Taylor Swift earned the Songwriter/Artist of the Year Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association for the first time in 2010.
Taylor Swift released her third studio album, "Speak Now," in 2010, experimenting with rock influences.
Taylor Swift released her third studio album, 'Speak Now', in 2010. This album showcased a blend of country and pop influences, with notable rock elements like pop rock, pop-punk, and 1980s arena rock.
Throughout 2008-2010 Taylor Swift released three more singles from her 'Fearless' album: 'White Horse,' 'Fifteen,' and the title track 'Fearless.' All three singles were well received and became fan favorites, further solidifying Swift's dominance on the country music scene.
In 2010, Taylor Swift released 'Today Was a Fairytale,' a single recorded for the soundtrack of the romantic comedy 'Valentine's Day.' The song became Swift's first chart-topper on the Canadian Hot 100, expanding her musical success beyond the US.
Taylor Swift was recognized for her influence by Time magazine, appearing on its annual list of the 100 most influential people in 2010.
In February 2011, Taylor Swift embarked on the 'Speak Now World Tour' to promote her third studio album, marking her first major international tour and showcasing her growing global stardom.
Taylor Swift's achievements were recognized further in 2011 as she received the Songwriter/Artist of the Year Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association for the second consecutive year. In a testament to her growing influence and impact, Billboard named her Woman of the Year.
As recipient of the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year in 2011, Taylor Swift donated $25,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tennessee.
In 2011, Taylor Swift publicly declared her primary identity as a songwriter, emphasizing that her vocal abilities serve to convey her lyrics effectively. She highlighted her songwriting process, driven by emotion and finding corresponding melodies.
In 2011, Taylor Swift used a dress rehearsal of her Speak Now tour as a benefit concert for victims of recent tornadoes in the US, raising more than $750,000.
Taylor Swift developed the concept and treatment for her music video "Mean" in 2011.
After over a year on the road, Taylor Swift's 'Speak Now World Tour' concluded in March 2012, marking a successful chapter in her career and leaving fans eagerly anticipating her next musical move.
In October 2012, Taylor Swift released her fourth studio album, 'Red,' featuring collaborations with producers such as Max Martin, Shellback, and Butch Walker. The album achieved significant commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 with 1.21 million sales.
Taylor Swift released her fourth studio album, 'Red', in 2012. This album explored more eclectic pop, rock, and electronic styles, marking a departure from her strictly country roots. It ignited discussions about Swift's evolving musical identity.
In 2012, Taylor Swift won the American Music Award for Best Female Country Artist.
In 2012, Taylor Swift released her fourth studio album, "Red," which included her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together."
In 2012, Taylor Swift participated in the Stand Up to Cancer telethon, performing the charity single "Ronan", which she wrote in memory of a four-year-old boy who died of neuroblastoma.
At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in 2012, Taylor Swift's song 'Mean' from her 'Speak Now' album earned her two Grammy Awards: Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.
In 2012, Taylor Swift contributed to the soundtrack of 'The Hunger Games,' writing and recording 'Eyes Open' and 'Safe & Sound.' She also collaborated with artists like B.o.B. on 'Both of Us.'
Taylor Swift embarked on her 'Red Tour' in March 2013, which went on to become the highest-grossing country tour at that time.
In 2013, New York magazine's Jody Rosen proclaimed Taylor Swift as the "world's biggest pop star," acknowledging her exceptional stardom and genre-defying music.
In 2013, Taylor Swift wrote and produced 'Sweeter Than Fiction' for the 'One Chance' soundtrack and made a cameo appearance on the sitcom 'New Girl.'
In March 2014, Taylor Swift moved to New York City, a change that she credited as a source of inspiration for her fifth studio album, '1989.'
In June 2014, Taylor Swift concluded her highly successful 'Red Tour.'
Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, '1989,' in October 2014, marking a notable shift towards a more pop-oriented sound.
In November 2014, Taylor Swift made the decision to remove her music catalog from free, ad-supported streaming platforms like Spotify.
From 2014 to 2018, Taylor Swift collaborated with director Joseph Kahn on eight music videos.
In 2014, Taylor Swift was included in Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the music category, highlighting her early career success.
Taylor Swift became the global ambassador for New York City in 2014.
Taylor Swift had a supporting role in the 2014 dystopian film 'The Giver.'
Taylor Swift earned the title of Global Recording Artist of the Year from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry for the first time in 2014.
Taylor Swift released "1989," a synth-pop album, in 2014, marking her transition from country to pop music.
Taylor Swift received the Billboard Woman of the Year award in 2014, becoming the first artist to win it twice, and was honored with the inaugural Dick Clark Award for Excellence at the American Music Awards.
Taylor Swift continued to experiment with electronic production techniques in her subsequent albums, including 'Reputation' (2017), 'Lover' (2019), and 'Midnights' (2022). Each album explored various pop subgenres like pop rock, electropop, and dream pop, while incorporating influences from other genres like hip hop, R&B, and EDM.
Taylor Swift started dating DJ Calvin Harris in March 2015.
Taylor Swift openly criticized Apple Music in June 2015 for not paying royalties to artists during its initial free trial period, prompting Apple to change its policy.
An exhibit dedicated to Taylor Swift at the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live closed on October 4, 2015, after a successful run.
In 2015, Taylor Swift was the youngest person named on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
Taylor Swift ranked first on DoSomething's 2015 "Gone Good" list.
Taylor Swift was once again included in Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in 2015.
Taylor Swift won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Interactive Program in 2015 for her work on the interactive app AMEX Unstaged: Taylor Swift Experience.
Taylor Swift's '1989 World Tour' in 2015 became the highest-grossing tour of that year, earning $250 million.
Kanye West released his single "Famous" in April 2016, which contained a controversial lyric referencing Taylor Swift. The resulting dispute ignited a public debate and led to Swift becoming a target of online criticism.
Taylor Swift's relationship with Calvin Harris ended in June 2016.
At the 64th BMI Awards in 2016, Taylor Swift was the first woman to be honored with an award named after its recipient.
Forbes named Taylor Swift the annual top-earning female musician in 2016.
In 2016, Taylor Swift donated $1 million to Louisiana flood relief efforts and $100,000 to the Dolly Parton Fire Fund.
In 2016, Taylor Swift was involved in a public dispute with Kanye West, further intensifying the scrutiny surrounding her public image and the media's portrayal of her as "calculated" and manipulative.
Taylor Swift won a Grammy Award for Best Music Video for "Bad Blood" in 2016.
At the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016, Taylor Swift's album '1989' won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. This made her the first woman to win Album of the Year twice.
Taylor Swift's music catalog was reinstated on Spotify and other free streaming platforms in June 2017.
In August 2017, Taylor Swift successfully countersued David Mueller, a former radio jockey for KYGO-FM, who sued her for damages from loss of employment.
In November 2017, Taylor Swift released her sixth studio album, Reputation, which explored the impact of her fame and musically incorporated electropop with urban styles of hip hop and R&B.
In 2017, influenced by media scrutiny, Taylor Swift released "Reputation," a hip-hop-influenced album featuring the number-one single "Look What You Made Me Do."
Taylor Swift released 'Reputation' in 2017, an album known for its darker themes and exploration of genres like hip hop, R&B, and EDM.
Taylor Swift collaborated with Zayn Malik on 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever' for the 'Fifty Shades Darker' soundtrack and won a Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year for 'Better Man,' which she penned for Little Big Town.
Taylor Swift donated to food banks after Hurricane Harvey struck Houston in 2017.
In 2017, Taylor Swift was named one of Time magazine's "Silence Breakers" and was recognized as Person of the Year for speaking out against sexual assault.
In November 2018, Taylor Swift signed a new deal with Universal Music Group, which included a provision for Swift to maintain ownership of her masters.
From 2014 to 2018, Taylor Swift collaborated with director Joseph Kahn on eight music videos.
In 2018, Taylor Swift donated to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
In 2018, Taylor Swift signed with Republic Records.
In 2018, Taylor Swift won four awards at the American Music Awards, becoming the AMAs' most awarded female musician, surpassing Whitney Houston. The same year, she embarked on her Reputation Stadium Tour, which became the highest-grossing North American concert tour in history.
In 2018, Taylor Swift's production company, Taylor Swift Productions, was credited with producing all of her visual media starting with the concert documentary Reputation Stadium Tour.
Taylor Swift's first album with Republic Records, Lover, was released in August 2019.
Taylor Swift released 'Lover' in 2019, an album known for its more romantic themes and its 1980s-influenced synth-driven production.
Taylor Swift released the eclectic pop album "Lover" in 2019.
In 2019, while promoting Lover, Taylor Swift became embroiled in a public dispute with the talent manager Scooter Braun after he purchased Big Machine Records, including the masters of her albums.
Taylor Swift was recognized as the Global Recording Artist of the Year by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in 2019.
Taylor Swift played Bombalurina in the film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats (2019), for which she co-wrote and recorded the Golden Globe-nominated original song "Beautiful Ghosts". The documentary Miss Americana, which chronicled parts of Swift's life and career, premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Taylor Swift continued to make a mark on the world, earning a place on Time magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people for the third time in 2019.
Forbes named Taylor Swift the annual top-earning female musician in 2019. She was the highest-paid celebrity of 2016 with $170 million—a feat recognized by Guinness World Records as the highest annual earnings ever for a female musician, which she herself surpassed with $185 million in 2019.
In 2019, Taylor Swift performed during WorldPride NYC at the Stonewall Inn, a gay rights monument.
In 2019, Billboard ranked Taylor Swift eighth on its prestigious Greatest of All Time Artists Chart, acknowledging her significant contributions to the music industry.
As of 2019, Taylor Swift has sold 200 million records worldwide.
In February 2020, Taylor Swift signed a global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group after her 16-year contract with Sony/ATV expired.
In November 2020, Taylor Swift began re-recording her back catalog after a public dispute with Scooter Braun over the ownership of her masters.
The album Lover and its singles earned three nominations at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2020.
Taylor Swift explored indie folk styles on her 2020 albums "Folklore" and "Evermore."
Taylor Swift donated $1 million for Tennessee tornado relief in 2020.
In 2020, Taylor Swift's albums 'Folklore' and 'Evermore' delved into fictional narratives and themes of escapism and romanticism. She explored new songwriting territories by creating imagined characters and storylines, demonstrating artistic growth and a departure from personal narratives.
In 2020, Taylor Swift released 'Folklore' and 'Evermore', exploring alternative and indie rock and folk styles. These albums presented a stripped-back soundscape with intricate instrumentation, marking a mature phase in her singer-songwriter journey.
In 2020, Taylor Swift urged her fans to check their voter registration ahead of elections, which resulted in 65,000 people registering to vote within one day of her post.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Taylor Swift surprise-released two "sister albums", Folklore in July and Evermore in December.
Red (Taylor's Version) was released in November 2021 and was supported by "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)", which became the longest song in history to top the Hot 100.
Taylor Swift collaborated with Big Red Machine on 'Renegade' and 'Birch', and with Haim on 'Gasoline' in 2021.
In 2021, Taylor Swift was the top-earning solo artist in the United States and the top-earning musician worldwide, according to Billboard.
In 2021, Taylor Swift donated to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month.
In 2021, Taylor Swift was awarded the Songwriter Icon Award by the National Music Publishers' Association.
In 2021, Taylor Swift released re-recorded versions of some of her earlier albums, showcasing a more mature and developed vocal tone. Critics praised her richer and fuller voice, acknowledging her growth as a vocalist.
In 2021, Taylor Swift reached an impressive global streaming milestone, accumulating over 78 billion streams.
In 2021, Taylor Swift directed and released "All Too Well: The Short Film."
Forbes named Taylor Swift the annual top-earning female musician in 2021.
Folklore made Taylor Swift the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year three times, winning the category at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards (2021). At the American Music Awards, Swift won three awards including Artist of the Year for a third record time (2020) and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Album (2021).
By 2021, Clash magazine proclaimed that Taylor Swift was no longer defined by any specific genre, stating that 'Taylor Swift is just Taylor Swift'.
On May 18, 2022, Taylor Swift received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from New York University and delivered the commencement address, inspiring graduating students.
In October 2022, Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album, 'Midnights', which featured an electropop and synth-pop sound.
Taylor Swift wrote and recorded 'Carolina' for the 'Where the Crawdads Sing' soundtrack in 2022. It received nominations for Best Original Song at the Golden Globes and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards. She also collaborated with Ed Sheeran on 'The Joker and the Queen'.
Taylor Swift won six American Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, in 2022. She also won her third Video of the Year award at the MTV Video Music Awards, for her self-directed short film 'All Too Well: The Short Film'.
Taylor Swift was once again honored as the Global Recording Artist of the Year by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry in 2022.
Taylor Swift released "Midnights," exploring subdued pop genres, in 2022.
Taylor Swift released 'Midnights' in 2022, an album characterized by its minimalist, subdued sound.
Taylor Swift had a supporting role in the period comedy 'Amsterdam' in 2022.
In 2022, the Nashville Songwriters Association International named Taylor Swift Songwriter-Artist of the Decade.
In 2022, Taylor Swift criticized the US Supreme Court's decision to end federal abortion rights.
Forbes named Taylor Swift the annual top-earning female musician in 2022.
Taylor Swift became the global ambassador for Record Store Day in 2022.
Taylor Swift embarked on the 'Eras Tour', a retrospective tour covering all her studio albums, in March 2023.
The concert film of Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' was released in theaters worldwide on October 13, 2023, grossing over $250 million to become the highest-grossing concert film. It was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement.
Taylor Swift's net worth is estimated by Forbes and Bloomberg News at $1.1 billion as of October 2023, making her the first musician to achieve billionaire status "solely based on her songs and performances".
Taylor Swift released two re-recorded albums, 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' and '1989 (Taylor's Version)', in July and October 2023, respectively.
On October 27, 2023, Taylor Swift achieved a remarkable streaming milestone, garnering over 260 million streams in a single day on Spotify.
By November 2023, Taylor Swift solidified her position as the highest-grossing female touring act ever, amassing over \$1.96 billion in cumulative ticket sales, according to Pollstar.
In December 2023, Taylor Swift's lawyers sent a cease and desist letter to American programmer Jack Sweeney over tracking her private jet, alleging stalking and safety risks.
Taylor Swift donated $1 million for Tennessee tornado relief in 2023.
Taylor Swift received the distinguished honor of Time Person of the Year once again in 2023, this time for her cultural dominance throughout the year, marking a significant achievement in the arts.
Taylor Swift embarked on The Eras Tour in 2023, which would go on to become the highest-grossing tour of all time.
In 2023, Swift was the most streamed artist on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. She was also the first artist to be number one on the year-end Billboard Top Artists list in three different decades (2009, 2015, and 2023).
Taylor Swift began dating American football player Travis Kelce in 2023.
In 2023, Taylor Swift's single "Cruel Summer", from the album Lover, became a resurgent success, reaching number one.
In 2023, Taylor Swift won her fourth MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year for 'Anti-Hero'.
In 2023, Taylor Swift was ranked 102nd on Rolling Stone's '200 Greatest Singers of All Time' list. Her 'Eras Tour' also garnered praise for the clarity and strength of her live vocals.
In 2023, Taylor Swift was named Time Person of the Year.
In 2023, Jason Lipshutz, Billboard executive director, makes a statement related to Taylor Swift.
In 2023, Adrian Horton of The Guardian noted Taylor Swift's "seemingly endless stamina" on the Eras Tour, and critic Ilana Kaplan called her showmanship "unparalleled".
In January 2024, AI-generated fake pornographic images of Taylor Swift circulated on social media, leading to criticism and calls for legal reform.
In February 2024, Taylor Swift donated $100,000 to the family of a woman who died in a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl parade.
In February 2024, it was reported that Taylor Swift had sold one of her two private jets.
Taylor Swift released her eleventh studio album, 'The Tortured Poets Department', on April 19, 2024. A double album edition, 'The Anthology', was surprise-released on the same day.
In 2024, Taylor Swift topped Billboard's annual Power 100 ranking of the top music industry executives.
Taylor Swift released "The Tortured Poets Department," exploring subdued pop genres, in 2024.
Taylor Swift won Artist of the Year at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.