Taylor Swift started writing songs about love and breakups in the early 2000s, but her talent was soon recognized by music executives who knew she was the real deal. From releasing her first record in 2006 to gracing stages all over the world this star has earned her place in the Hollywood A-list music scene.
“I remember people asking me, ‘What are you gonna write about if you ever get happy?’” Swift recalled to Elle magazine in March 2019. “There’s a common misconception that artists have to be miserable in order to make good art, that art and suffering go hand in hand. I’m really grateful to have learned this isn’t true. Finding happiness and inspiration at the same time has been really cool.”
In April 2021, Swift officially began a new journey, rereleasing her old albums, beginning with Fearless (Taylor’s Version) after a very public feud with Scooter Braun and former Big Machine Records owner Scott Borchetta over the rights to her first six albums.
“Artists should own their own work for so many reasons,” Swift wrote via Instagram in March 2021 about the process. “But the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.”
Scroll down to revisit Swift’s epic journey to stardom:
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Sweet Single
Swift emerged in the music scene in June 2006 with her first lead single, “Tim McGraw,” named after, but not inspired by, the iconic country crooner. The track marked her first of many Top 40 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 list.
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Introducing Taylor Swift
The curly-cued country singer released her first album later in 2006. The self-titled record featured many songs Swifties still know and love today, including “Teardrops on My Guitar,” “Our Song,” “Picture to Burn” and “Should’ve Said No.”
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Taking Off
The Nashville native continued to grow her following in November 2008 after dropping her second album, Fearless, which later became the top-selling album of 2009. She also joined Keith Urban’s Escape Together world tour that year
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Receiving Recognition
Swift earned her first Grammy in 2009. She went home with eight nominations that year and won four awards.
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