111 Fun Facts About Taylor Swift

What is the name of Taylor Swift's debut single, released in 2006?

"Tim McGraw" was Taylor Swift's debut single, released in June 2006. She wrote it during her freshman year of high school about a senior she was dating who was heading off to college.

Which musician did Swift approach to collaborate on the 1989 song "Clean"?

Imogen Heap co-wrote and co-produced "Clean," the minimalist closing track of 1989, built on sparse percussion and programmed keyboards.

How many Grammys did Taylor Swift win at the 2010 ceremony, where Fearless took Album of the Year?

Fearless won four Grammy Awards at the 2010 ceremony: Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best Country Song ("White Horse"), and Best Female Country Vocal Performance ("White Horse").

What is the name of Taylor Swift's first pop album that abandoned her country sound?

1989, released in October 2014, was Taylor Swift's first official pop album. Named after her birth year, it marked a deliberate departure from her country music roots.

Which song begins with the lyrics "We were both young when I first saw you"?

"Love Story" opens with those iconic lyrics. Released in 2008 from the Fearless album, the song reimagines Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending and became one of Taylor's signature songs.

What year was Taylor Swift born?

Taylor Alison Swift was born on December 13, 1989, in West Reading, Pennsylvania. Her birth year later became the title of her landmark fifth studio album.

Which Taylor Swift album includes the songs "cardigan," "exile," and "august"?

Folklore won Album of the Year at the Grammys; its sister record Evermore followed five months later.

What is the opening track on Taylor Swift's "Reputation" album?

"...Ready for It?" is the opening track on Reputation (2017). While "Look What You Made Me Do" was the lead single and got more attention, the album opens with the bass-heavy "...Ready for It?"

The ten-minute cut of Swift's most famous Red track carries 'Taylor's Version' and which other parenthetical?

Released with Red (Taylor's Version) in 2021, the unabridged song became the longest ever to top the Billboard Hot 100.

What are the names of Taylor Swift's three cats?

Meredith, Olivia, and Benjamin: Meredith Grey from Grey's Anatomy, Olivia Benson from Law & Order: SVU, and Benjamin Button.

Travis Kelce, whom Taylor Swift began dating in 2023, played tight end for which NFL team?

Kelce was the Kansas City Chiefs' tight end; in February 2023 his Chiefs beat brother Jason's Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII, the 'Kelce Bowl.'

Which Taylor Swift album was entirely written by her alone, with no co-writers?

Speak Now (2010) is the only Taylor Swift album where she is the sole credited songwriter on every track. She wrote all 14 songs (plus 6 deluxe tracks) without any co-writers.

Who directed the short film for "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)"?

Taylor Swift wrote and directed the All Too Well short film herself, starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won a Grammy for Best Music Video.

What was the name of the businessman who acquired Taylor Swift's original master recordings in 2019?

Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine Records in June 2019, giving him ownership of Taylor's first six albums' masters. This prompted her decision to re-record all those albums.

Which Taylor Swift music video features her emerging from a bathtub full of jewels?

In the "Look What You Made Me Do" music video (2017), Taylor famously bathes in a bathtub overflowing with diamonds and jewels, a scene that became one of her most iconic visual moments.

Why does the number 13 keep turning up in Taylor Swift's lyrics, videos and release dates?

She considers it lucky: born on the 13th, she turned 13 on a Friday the 13th and her first album went gold in 13 weeks, by her own telling.

When Taylor Swift was 14, her father transferred his Merrill Lynch job so the family could move to which state for her music?

Tennessee: the family settled in Hendersonville, near Nashville, and she signed with Big Machine at 15.

Which producer co-wrote and co-produced most of Folklore and Evermore with Taylor Swift?

Aaron Dessner of the band The National co-produced and co-wrote the majority of both Folklore and Evermore. He sent Taylor instrumentals during lockdown, and she wrote lyrics to them remotely.

Which Taylor Swift "Taylor's Version" re-recording was released first?

Fearless (Taylor's Version) came first and debuted at number one; Red, Speak Now and 1989 followed.

How many albums did Taylor Swift need to re-record to own her masters?

Taylor needed to re-record six albums: Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation — all originally released under Big Machine Records. Everything from Lover onward she already owns.

Which surprise duet partner joined Taylor Swift on "exile" from the Folklore album?

Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) provided the male vocals on "exile," the fourth track on Folklore. The emotional duet became one of the album's standout tracks.

Fans at which 2023 tour stop caused shaking equivalent to a 2.3-magnitude earthquake, the 'Swift Quake'?

Seattle's Lumen Field: seismologists measured fan dancing on July 22 and 23, 2023 as equivalent to a magnitude 2.3 earthquake, dubbed the 'Swift Quake.'

What was unique about Taylor Swift's surprise song performance at each Eras Tour show?

Each night she played two unannounced songs from her own catalog, one on guitar and one on piano, a tradition dating to the Speak Now World Tour; fans tracked the list to predict future picks.

Which Speak Now single won Best Country Song at the 2012 Grammy Awards?

"Mean" won Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance at the 2012 Grammys; Swift wrote the banjo-driven Speak Now single as a reply to a harsh critic.

Swift's 2018 stadium tour concert film premiered on New Year's Eve exclusively on which service?

Netflix premiered Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour on December 31, 2018, filmed at the October 6, 2018 show at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

In which movie did Taylor Swift play the character Bombalurina?

Taylor Swift played Bombalurina in the 2019 film adaptation of Cats, directed by Tom Hooper. Despite the film's poor critical reception, Taylor's brief musical number was one of the more memorable moments.

Which Grammy Award did Taylor Swift win for "Folklore" in 2021?

Folklore won Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammy Awards, making Taylor Swift the first woman to win Album of the Year three times (after Fearless and 1989).

How many times has Taylor Swift won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year (through 2024)?

Taylor Swift has won Album of the Year four times: Fearless (2010), 1989 (2016), Folklore (2021), and Midnights (2024). She is the only artist in Grammy history to win this category four times.

Which Ed Sheeran collaboration appeared on Taylor Swift's "Red" album?

"Everything Has Changed" is a duet with Ed Sheeran from the Red album (2012). The two became close friends, and Ed later appeared on Reputation's "End Game" as well.

What was Taylor Swift's reason for removing her music from Spotify in 2014?

Her catalog stayed only on paid, subscription-required platforms until it returned to Spotify in June 2017.

In which music video does Taylor Swift play a deranged girlfriend who trashes a mansion and golf-clubs a car?

Blank Space skewers the 'serial dater' tabloid image; the video has more than three billion YouTube views.

What is the opening lyric of "Anti-Hero"?

"Anti-Hero" opens with "I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser." The more famous line "It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me" comes in the chorus.

Which album, released July 24, 2020, was Swift's first surprise release with no advance announcement?

Dessner said Republic Records was unaware of the album until hours before launch; a second surprise album followed in December.

Roughly how much did the Eras Tour gross across its 2023 to 2024 run?

About $2 billion: the Eras Tour became the first tour to pass $1 billion and then $2 billion, closing on December 8, 2024 at roughly $2.08 billion in ticket sales.

Roughly how much did Swift's 2023 concert film gross, a record for a concert film?

AMC reported $100 million in pre-sales a week before release, already beating Justin Bieber: Never Say Never's $73 million lifetime gross.

How many songs did The Anthology edition add to The Tortured Poets Department?

The added tracks are mostly mellow, piano-led chamber-pop and folk-pop ballads.

Which 1989 single did Swift write and produce with the Bleachers frontman?

That partnership has since produced three Album of the Year winners: 1989, Folklore, and Midnights.

What Taylor Swift song contains the lyric "Band-aids don't fix bullet holes"?

Bad Blood's star-packed video won Video of the Year at the 2015 VMAs; Swift and Perry made peace in 2019 in the 'You Need to Calm Down' video.

In which year did Swift break her political silence by endorsing two Democrats in the midterms?

In October 2018 she endorsed Tennessee Democrats Phil Bredesen (Senate) and Jim Cooper (House) on Instagram, her first public political endorsement, followed by a widely reported surge in voter registrations.

While accepting which award at the 2024 Grammys did Swift announce The Tortured Poets Department?

Later that night she set the record for the most Album of the Year wins by any artist.

What was the name of Taylor Swift's first headlining concert run, announced in January 2009?

The Fearless Tour, her first headlining tour, was announced in January 2009 and ran from April 2009 to July 2010, with Kellie Pickler and Gloriana opening the first North American leg.

How did Kanye West interrupt Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV VMAs?

He took the mic to say Beyoncé deserved it, 'one of the best videos of all time'; Beyoncé later invited Swift back on stage to finish.

What do Swifties call the hidden clues Taylor Swift plants in videos, outfits and posts to hint at upcoming releases?

Easter Eggs, borrowed from video games; Swift has said she plants them on purpose, and fans decode everything down to nail polish colours.

Which "vault track" from 1989 (Taylor's Version) became a massive hit in 2023?

"Is It Over Now?" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2023, Swift's 11th US chart-topper and the biggest of the five 1989 (Taylor's Version) vault tracks.

What did Taylor Swift's open letter to Apple Music in 2015 convince them to change?

In June 2015, Taylor wrote an open letter criticizing Apple Music's plan not to pay artists during its three-month free trial. Within 24 hours, Apple reversed the policy, and Taylor released 1989 on the platform.

In which New Jersey shore town did Taylor Swift's family summer?

Stone Harbor, on the southern Jersey Shore, where the Swift family spent summers through her childhood; her holidays, by contrast, were spent on the family's Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania.

What is the first name of Taylor Swift's younger brother?

Austin Swift, born March 11, 1992, is her only sibling; an actor, he appeared in the 2016 films I.T. and Live by Night.

Who sang lead on 'This Is What You Came For', the Calvin Harris single Swift co-wrote under a pseudonym?

Swift and Harris were dating at the time; her writing credit surfaced only after they split.

What was Taylor Swift's first song to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart?

While many of her earlier songs were massive hits, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was her first track to top the Billboard Hot 100 in 2012.

Who directed Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood', 'Blank Space' and 'Look What You Made Me Do' videos?

Joseph Kahn directed 'Blank Space,' 'Bad Blood,' 'Wildest Dreams,' 'Out of the Woods,' 'Look What You Made Me Do,' '...Ready for It?' and 'Delicate,' winning Video of the Year at the 2015 VMAs for 'Bad Blood.'

In which U.S. state was Taylor Swift born?

Taylor Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, before moving to Tennessee to pursue her music career.

Under what pseudonym is Joe Alwyn credited as a co-writer on Folklore and Evermore?

William Bowery: Swift confirmed in the Long Pond Studio Sessions film that the co-writer credit on "exile" and "betty" was her then-partner Joe Alwyn, who also shares credit on Evermore's "champagne problems."

Which song's video won Taylor Swift the Best Female Video prize at the 2009 VMAs?

"You Belong with Me" won Best Female Video at the 2009 MTV VMAs, beating Beyoncé's "Single Ladies" in that category; the video co-stars Lucas Till as the boy next door.

Which of these songs is a "From The Vault" track released on "Red (Taylor's Version)"?

"Message In A Bottle" is one of nine vault tracks on Red (Taylor's Version), co-written with Max Martin and Shellback; "Mr. Perfectly Fine" and "Bye Bye Baby" are Fearless vault tracks and "I Can See You" is from Speak Now.

With whom did Taylor Swift record 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever' for Fifty Shades Darker?

Taylor Swift teamed up with Zayn Malik for the hit single "I Don't Wanna Live Forever," which was part of the "Fifty Shades Darker" soundtrack.

Which two 1989 singles made Swift the first woman to replace herself at Hot 100 number one?

Three singles from the album reached number one in all.

What alias did Taylor Swift use on Calvin Harris and Rihanna's "This Is What You Came For"?

Taylor Swift used the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg when she co-wrote the song "This Is What You Came For."

Which track was released as the lead single from Evermore?

"willow," Evermore's lead single, debuted at number one on the Hot 100 the same week the album entered the Billboard 200 at number one.

What was the name of Taylor Swift's first fragrance, launched in 2011?

Wonderstruck launched in October 2011 with Elizabeth Arden as her first perfume; Wonderstruck Enchanted (2012), Taylor by Taylor Swift (2013) and Incredible Things (2014) followed.

Which actor played Taylor Swift's love interest in the "Wildest Dreams" video?

Scott Eastwood, Clint Eastwood's son, co-starred in the 2015 "Wildest Dreams" video, a 1950s film-set romance shot in Africa whose proceeds went to wildlife conservation.

Which honor did Time magazine give Taylor Swift in December 2023?

Time named Swift its 2023 Person of the Year on December 6, 2023, after the Eras Tour's first year; one of the cover shots featured her cat Benjamin Button draped over her shoulders.

Which acclaimed documentary about Taylor Swift's life and career was released in 2020?

"Miss Americana" is a revealing documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was released on Netflix in 2020, offering an intimate look at her life.

In which city did the Eras Tour open on March 17, 2023?

Glendale, Arizona: the Eras Tour opened at State Farm Stadium on March 17, 2023, and the city temporarily renamed itself 'Swift City' for the two-night stand.

Which 2019 Swift single features Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco?

"Me!" was the lead single from Lover (2019) and features Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco on vocals.

What instrument did Taylor Swift begin learning at age 12, which became central to her early songwriting?

Guitar: at 12 a repairman fixing the family computer showed her three chords, and she wrote her first song, "Lucky You," soon after; the guitar anchored her early country songwriting.

The album "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" was released in what year?

"Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" was released in July 2023, featuring six new "From The Vault" tracks.

For roughly how much did Ithaca Holdings buy the label that owned Swift's first six albums in 2019?

The purchase included the masters of her first six albums and set off the re-recording project.

Which Folklore song was her first to debut at number one on the Hot 100 and Billboard 200 simultaneously?

"Cardigan" made history by debuting at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts, a first for any artist at the time.

Taylor Swift's maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, had a career as what kind of performer?

Taylor Swift's maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, was a professional opera singer, whose influence sparked Swift's early interest in music.

Which presidential candidate did Taylor Swift endorse on Instagram in September 2024?

Kamala Harris: Swift posted her endorsement on September 10, 2024, minutes after the Harris-Trump debate, and signed it 'Childless Cat Lady.'

Which of these is a "From The Vault" track from "Fearless (Taylor's Version)"?

"That's When" featuring Keith Urban is one of the previously unreleased "From The Vault" tracks included on "Fearless (Taylor's Version)."

Which pop star, famous from 2021, repeatedly described herself as Taylor Swift's biggest fan?

Olivia Rodrigo: after 'drivers license' broke out in January 2021 she called herself Swift's biggest fan, and Swift publicly congratulated her; Rodrigo names Swift and Lorde as her main inspirations.

The song "Cruel Summer" gained significant popularity years after its initial release from which album?

"Cruel Summer," from the 2019 album "Lover," experienced a resurgence in popularity and became a hit single years after its initial release, particularly during The Eras Tour.

What was Taylor Swift's scrapped 2020 festival-style concert series for her seventh album called?

The tour planned to support her 2019 album "Lover" was called Lover Fest, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Which surprise album, released in December 2020, did Taylor Swift call the 'sister record' to Folklore?

Evermore arrived on December 11, 2020, five months after Folklore; Swift called it Folklore's 'sister record' because she and her collaborators 'just couldn't stop writing songs.'

Who co-wrote and co-produced many of Taylor Swift's albums from "1989" on, including "Reputation" and "Lover"?

Jack Antonoff became a key collaborator and producer for Taylor Swift starting with "1989," and has worked on many of her subsequent albums.

In which 2010 ensemble romantic comedy did Taylor Swift make her feature-film debut?

Valentine's Day (2010), Garry Marshall's ensemble rom-com, was her film debut, playing Felicia opposite Taylor Lautner; her first screen role had come a year earlier on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Which music video was the first Taylor Swift directed entirely on her own?

"The Man" (February 2020) was the first video Swift directed alone, after co-directing "ME!" and "You Need to Calm Down" with Drew Kirsch; she played the swaggering male lead in prosthetics.

In which city did the Eras Tour play its final show on December 8, 2024?

Vancouver: the final Eras Tour show was at BC Place on December 8, 2024, following a six-night Toronto run in November.

Which folk singer-songwriter was Swift named after?

James Taylor: her mother chose the name partly because it would read gender-neutral on a business card; Swift later sang 'Fire and Rain' with Taylor at her 2011 Madison Square Garden show.

Which streaming service released Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version) in 2024?

Disney+ began streaming Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version) in March 2024, adding 'cardigan' and four acoustic surprise songs cut from the theatrical release.

Which country act did Swift open for in 2006 while promoting her debut album?

Rascal Flatts: in October 2006 she replaced Eric Church as the opener on their Me and My Gang Tour, then opened for George Strait and Brad Paisley in 2007.

Which 'From The Vault' track on 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' features Fall Out Boy?

"Electric Touch" is a "From The Vault" track from "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" that features the band Fall Out Boy.

Which city named Swift its tourism ambassador in 2014?

Her album that year opened with "Welcome to New York".

Taylor Swift won the Billboard Woman of the Decade award in what year?

Taylor Swift was honored with the prestigious Billboard Woman of the Decade award in 2019, recognizing her immense impact on the music industry.

The song "Bad Blood" from the album "1989" features a rap verse from which artist?

The remix of "Bad Blood" famously features a rap verse from Grammy-winning artist Kendrick Lamar.

What is the primary genre of Taylor Swift's album "Folklore"?

"Folklore" marked a significant stylistic shift for Taylor Swift, delving into an indie folk and alternative sound.

Which honor did the clip for Swift's 2006 debut single pick up in 2007?

The music video for "Tim McGraw" won Breakthrough Video of the Year at the 2007 CMT Music Awards.

Who co-wrote many early Taylor Swift hits like 'Teardrops on My Guitar' and 'Picture to Burn'?

Liz Rose was a frequent songwriting collaborator with Taylor Swift during her early country music career, co-writing many of her debut album's tracks.

Which production duo co-wrote and produced 'Shake It Off' with Taylor Swift?

Max Martin and Shellback co-wrote and produced 'Shake It Off' with Swift; the Swedish pair also handled 'Blank Space,' 'Style' and 'Bad Blood' on 1989.

Which track opens Taylor Swift's album folklore?

'the 1' opens the record with piano and light percussion, its line 'I'm doing good, I'm on some new shit' setting folklore's wry tone; 'cardigan' follows as track two.

In the '10 Minute Version' of 'All Too Well', what clothing item is left at a sister's house?

The scarf: left at his sister's house in the first verse, it returns in the last, kept by the ex 'because it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me.'

What animal is prominently featured in the music video for 'Blank Space'?

Horses: shot at Oheka Castle and the Woolworth Estate on Long Island, the video has Swift and model Sean O'Pry riding white horses through the grounds before the romance unravels into a satire of her tabloid image.

Which of Taylor Swift's albums is home to 'You Belong With Me'?

'You Belong With Me' was a major crossover hit from her second studio album, *Fearless*, released in 2008.

Taylor Swift wrote 'Love Story' about a boy her family disliked, using which Shakespeare play as her reference point?

Romeo and Juliet, with the ending rewritten so the story closes with a marriage proposal instead of a tragedy.

Which folk duo joined Swift on "Safe & Sound", her song for The Hunger Games soundtrack?

The Civil Wars (Joy Williams and John Paul White) co-wrote and sang on 'Safe & Sound'; T Bone Burnett produced it, and it won the 2013 Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Swift co-wrote "Beautiful Ghosts" for a 2019 musical film adaptation with which composer?

Andrew Lloyd Webber co-wrote 'Beautiful Ghosts' with Swift for the 2019 film of his stage musical, she supplying the lyrics; Greg Wells produced it with Lloyd Webber and director Tom Hooper.

Swift wrote and recorded "Carolina" for the soundtrack of which 2022 film?

Where the Crawdads Sing: 'Carolina' closed the 2022 film, recorded with only instruments available before 1953 to match the story's setting, and was released in June 2022 ahead of the premiere.

Maya Thompson, credited as co-writer of Swift's 2012 charity single "Ronan", is who?

The mother of the boy the song is about — Swift built the lyrics from Thompson's blog about her son Ronan, who died of cancer at three, and every dollar from the single went to cancer causes.

Which song, written by Swift for Red but left off it, won CMA Song of the Year for Little Big Town?

'Better Man,' which Swift wrote for Red and gave to Little Big Town in 2016, won CMA Song of the Year in 2017 and Best Country Duo/Group Performance at the 2018 Grammys; her own version appeared on Red (Taylor's Version).

How many shows did the Eras Tour span in total?

149 shows: the Eras Tour covered 51 cities in 21 countries on five continents between March 2023 and December 2024.

What working title did Swift choose for Speak Now before Scott Borchetta talked her out of it?

Enchanted: Swift planned to name the album after that song, but Scott Borchetta felt the fairy-tale word clashed with its grown-up perspective, so she chose Speak Now.

Which country group sang harmonies on 'Soon You'll Get Better', the Lover ballad about Swift's mother?

The song is "Soon You'll Get Better"; the trio, still billed as the Dixie Chicks at the time, were childhood heroes of Swift's.

Which 2014 dystopian film gave Swift a supporting acting role?

The Giver (2014): she played Rosemary, the Giver's daughter, opposite Jeff Bridges and Meryl Streep in the adaptation of Lois Lowry's novel.

Swift had a voice role in which 2012 animated film?

The Lorax: she voiced Audrey in the 2012 Dr. Seuss adaptation alongside Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron and Betty White.

"Sweeter than Fiction", which earned Swift a Golden Globe nomination, was written for which 2013 film?

One Chance, the 2013 biopic of Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts; 'Sweeter than Fiction' played over its closing credits and was released as a stand-alone download in October 2013.

With Midnights, Swift became the first artist to do what on the Billboard Hot 100?

Occupying all ten spots: on the chart dated November 5, 2022, Midnights tracks filled the entire Hot 100 top ten, a feat no artist had managed before.

Which band features on "Coney Island" from Evermore?

The National feature on 'Coney Island,' with frontman Matt Berninger duetting; they returned the favour when Swift guested on their 2023 song 'The Alcott.'

In which country did Swift record her twelfth album, The Life of a Showgirl, during the Eras Tour?

Sweden: she recorded the album in Stockholm with Max Martin and Shellback between European Eras Tour dates in 2024, and announced it in August 2025.

When Taylor Swift hosted Saturday Night Live in 2009, what form did her opening monologue take?

She sang 'Monologue Song (La La La),' a self-written number poking fun at Kanye West and Joe Jonas, while also serving as the night's musical guest on November 7, 2009.

Who produced Taylor Swift's self-titled debut album after cutting her early demos?

Nathan Chapman, then a demo producer working out of a small shed on Music Row, cut her demos; Swift persuaded her label to let him produce the 2006 album after trying more established Nashville names.