She first started singing at local karaoke contests and fairs
When many imagine Taylor Swift, they think of her belting out hit songs on enormous stages. But her roots? They’re much more modest. Before becoming a global phenomenon, Swift’s first live performances were at local karaoke contests and fairs. Next time you’re at a local talent show, remember – you might just be witnessing the next big thing!
She learned her first guitar chords from a computer repairman
You might have thought Swift got all of her guitar lessons from a seasoned musician in a studio. But, you’d be wrong. The reality? It was actually a computer repairman who taught her her very first guitar chords. Hey, sometimes inspiration can come from the most unexpected places – look where she is today.
She wrote her first song, Lucky You, based on those chords
Those initial guitar chords she learned? They weren’t just a passing phase. She swiftly turned them into her first ever song, Lucky You. The song was based on the very three chords taught to her by the computer repairman, paving the way for 230+ other songs Swift has composed and recorded since.
She wrote a 350 page novel when she was 12
While she’s known for expressing her feelings and stories through music now, a young Taylor Swift was already practicing the art of storytelling in written form, as at the tender age of 12 she penned a 350-page novel. Her novel sadly, has never been published in any form to date. Wonder if we’ll ever get to read it?
Her first guitar was a 12-string guitar, but she found it too difficult to play
Swift’s ambition was clear from the get-go. Her first guitar was a complex 12-string one. But, just like us, she is only human – even she found it too demanding at first, and had to switch to a 6-string one. So, if you’re struggling with a new skill, remember, even the best have to start from the basics.
She was a member of the National Honor Society in high school
With her plethora of Grammy’s, it’s easy to forget that Swift was competing in the same competitions, and taking the same tests as us back when she was in school. And unsurprisingly, she was also a star in the classroom, and was a proud member of the National Honor Society. Clearly, her commitment to excellence wasn’t limited to the stage.
She was influenced by her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay
Behind every great artist, there’s often inspiration from an unsung hero. For Taylor Swift, it was her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who was herself a renowned opera singer. Taylor’s passion and skills can be traced back to the powerful musical lineage passed down from her grandmother. She even paid tribute to her in her song Marjorie, which was released in 2021.
She was named after the singer James Taylor
The name ‘Taylor Swift’ is now associated with chart-topping hits and iconic music moments. But did you know she was named after another singer? Her parents chose her moniker in tribute to legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor. It seems like music was always in the cards for her, right from the very start.
Her childhood hero was Shania Twain
Before she was selling out stadiums, Swift was just another kid with a dream. Her biggest inspiration? None other than the queen of country-pop, Shania Twain, whose ability to blend country and pop opened the doors for Swift’s own crossover success. It’s safe to say that without Twain, there might be no Taylor Swift as we know her today.
She won a local talent competition by singing LeAnn Rimes’ Big Deal
Long before her record-breaking Eras Tours, Swift was singing in local talent competitions. One of her proudest moments as a child was taking home the first prize after belting out LeAnn Rimes’ hit song Big Deal; an early victory which was a big deal (pun intended) for a young Swift.
She used to knock on doors on Music Row and hand out demo CDs
While she had incredible talent, success didn’t just fall into Swift’s lap. She used to knock on doors on Music Row in Nashville, handing out demo CDs of her singing karaoke songs. The singer has since stated that she sounded like chipmunk on these early recordings, but it’s this kind of determination and grit that has gotten her to where she is today.
One of her favorite childhood TV shows was Friends
Swift wasn’t just influenced by music growing up. Friends was one (and still is!) her favorite shows to watch. These shows were more than just entertainment; they were a source of inspiration and helped shape her storytelling skills. Some superfans have even noticed where she likely drew inspiration from the show in some of her songs. Can you spot any references?
She was a fan of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera
Going through her teenhood in 2000s, like almost every teen girl, Swift was a big fan of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. Their influence can be seen in her catchy pop songs and incredible performances. In a full circle moment for the star, Britney told E! News: “I love Taylor Swift” at the 2015 Teen Choice Awards. Isn’t she ‘lucky’?
Swift’s first pet was a cat named Indy
Swift is super vocal about how adoration for cats and she’s currently got three – Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button. It likely started with her first pet, a cat named Indy. Indy didn’t like anyone else in her family apart from Taylor. It’s no wonder Swift has continued to surround herself with furry friends to this day.
She also had a dog named Bug
But let’s not forget about her other four-legged friend, a dog named Bug. Just like Indy, Bug helped shape her love for animals. Though she doesn’t have any dogs today (the one above is her Mum’s dog, Kitty), that’s likely due to her intense travel schedule – we all know dogs are not the lowest maintenance of pets.
She was a member of a local theater group called Berks Youth Theatre Academy
Most know Swift for her music, but did you know she started honing her performance skills in a local theater group? Yep, she was a part of the Berks Youth Theatre Academy. Acting, singing, dancing – she did it all. Clearly, Swift was destined for the stage.
She performed in youth productions of Grease, Annie and The Sound of Music
With her love for performing, Swift performed in some classics during her time at the theatre. She stepped into the shoes of characters in classics like Grease, Annie, and even The Sound of Music. Notice a pattern here? All are musicals – meaning that whilst acting, she was still able indulge in her true passion: music.
Her family had a summer house in Stone Harbor
The Swift family owned a summer house in Stone Harbor, providing a perfect getaway from their regular life. A borough of Cape May County in New Jersey, Stone Harbor is a beautiful escape full of beaches and sunshine, and it seems likely that the idyllic locale inspired some of Swift’s early songwriting.
Swift started writing songs as a way to cope with being bullied in school
Although it’s hard to imagine now, Swift faced challenges like many other kids – including being bullied in school. But instead of letting it bring her down, she channeled her feelings into writing songs. Little did her bullies know, they were indirectly fueling the fire for one of the world’s most successful singer-songwriters.
Her favorite childhood Disney movie was The Little Mermaid
Swift might be creating her own fairytales through her songs now, but back in the day, she was just as enchanted by them as the rest of us. Her childhood Disney favorite? The Little Mermaid, which funnily enough was released in 1989 – the year of Swift’s birth, and the title of her iconic fifth album.
Faith played a role in Swift’s upbringing
Swift was actually raised in a Presbyterian household, so regular visits to the church were a staple in the Swift family. These early years played a big part in shaping her values, work ethic, and the themes of love and family that frequently feature in her songs.
She took acting lessons as a child
Yes, she is known for her singing, but did you know she started off with acting lessons as a child? While her primary fame comes from music, her early acting lessons have surely played a part in her music videos and occasional features in film and TV. Remember her part in Valentine’s Day alongside Taylor Lautner? Or – gulp – her turn in the 2019 movie Cats?
Her favorite subject in school was English
This one will likely not come as any surprise: her favorite subject in school was English. The lessons she learned in class, the books she read, and the stories she wrote, must have all planted the seeds for the lyrical genius she’s recognized as today.
She was home-schooled for her last two years of high school
Though she started out in public school, Swift’s unique lifestyle led her to be home-schooled for her last two years of high school. Balancing her trying to build her music career whilst staying on top of education must have been no easy feat, but she made it work in her own way.
Swift’s first performed to a large audience at a Philadelphia 76ers game
Can you imagine the nerves? Before she was used to the biggest arenas in the world arenas, one of Swift’s most significant early performances was singing the National Anthem at a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game. Singing the Star-Spangled Banner is pretty apt given the star she would soon become.
Swift’s first song was featured on a CD given out in Maybelline magazine when she was 14
Before she became a household name, Swift’s songwriting was already being recognized. At just 14, one of her original songs was actually featured in a compilation CD given out with Maybelline magazine. In an interview, Swift was eating at a Taco Bell when she found out and told an interviewer: “I was ecstatic! I started screaming. Everybody looked at me like I was crazy”.
Her favorite childhood book was To Kill a Mockingbird
It’s not surprising that Swift’s favorite childhood book was the classic To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Swift has said of the praised the storytelling in the novel for giving her inspiration to make ‘sparks fly’ in her songwriting: “It makes your mind wander. It makes you feel like it makes your world more vast.”
She participated in a national poetry contest when she was ten
Swift’s flair for words was clear even before she picked up a guitar. Aged ten, she made her mark by participating in a national poetry contest. Back in 2022 one of her fans tweeted about the poem, which was titled A Monster in my Closet: ‘reminder that taylor won an national poetry contest in 4th grade… she HAS been the songwriter of the decade.’
She was known for her love of fairy tales
Much like the captivating tales she spins in her songs, Swift has always been enchanted by fairy tales. From a young age, she was drawn to stories where “you meet Prince Charming and he’s everything you ever wanted.” These stories laid the foundation for the poetic and often fairy-tale-like lyrics she pens today.
People she grew up with recall her being shy but polite as a child
Before the lights and stages, Swift was just another child trying to find her place in the world. Those who knew her then remember a young Taylor who was somewhat reserved, almost shy, but always polite. Today, she may command the attention of millions, but back then, it sounds like she was quite the opposite.
She grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Imagine growing up amidst the scent of pine trees and the magic of Christmas all year round. For Swift, this was a reality. The backdrop of her childhood was a Christmas tree farm. She’s since released a Christmas song aptly titled Christmas Tree Farm, and the video is comprised of clips from her childhood.
Her father, Scott, worked as a stockbroker
While Swift’s talents are all her own, she grew up in a supportive family that helped foster her ambitions. Her father, Scott, worked as a stockbroker, ensuring that Taylor and her younger brother Austin (who has since worked as an actor) had the resources she needed to pursue her dreams.
Her mother, Andrea, worked as a marketing executive
Just like her father, Swift’s mother, Andrea, played a crucial role in her development as an artist. Working as a marketing executive, Andrea no doubt passed on some of the skills that have helped Swift become such a successful and recognizable brand.
She’s a former Abercrombie model
Did you know, that before dominating the music chats, Swift actually graced Abercrombie campaigns in 2003. Joining the ranks of celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Channing Tatum, Swift had a brief moment as a model. Any publicity is good publicity, right?
She started using Myspace to develop her fan base
In the early days of social media, Myspace was the place to be, and Swift made sure she was there. Using the platform, she began building what would become one of the most loyal fan bases in the world. As times changed, she transitioned to platforms like Tumblr, and then Instagram and TikTok, but her commitment to connecting with fans has never wavered.
She wanted to be a stockbroker, just like her dad
When Taylor Swift was a child, she had aspirations of becoming a stockbroker, just like her dad. She shared in an interview, “I didn’t know what a stock broker was when I was 8, but I would just tell everybody that’s what I was going to be. I can broke stocks.” Fortunately for all of us, she turned to music instead.
She rode horses as a kid
In a 2016 interview with Vogue, Swift shared that her mom had aspirations for her to be a horseback rider. Because of that, Swift rode competitively until she was 12 years old. Eventually, she told her mom that it wasn’t her passion, but you can still catch her riding a horse in the music video for her hit song Blank Space.
She made her dream come true with a CSI appearance in 2009
In 2009, Swift played murder victim on TV’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the episode Turn, Turn, Turn. This was tied in with her Fearless promo, and she once confessed to MTV, “All my friends know that my dream is to die on CSI. I’ve always wanted to be one of the characters on there that they’re trying to figure out what happened to.”
Her brother’s nickname for her was (and still is) Teffy
Taylor’s brother, Austin, has a special name for his big sister: Teffy. In several social media posts, Austin has revealed this adorable nickname. For Taylor’s 25th birthday in 2014, Austin even tweeted the iconic “errmahgerd” meme with the text, “errmahgerd Teffy is 25.” It just goes to show, no matter how famous you become, family will always keep you grounded.
Swift’s lucky number has always been 13
A lot of us have a lucky number. For Swift, it’s the number 13. But why? She was born on the 13th and turned 13 years old on a Friday the 13th. And, once she was older, her first album went gold in 13 weeks. So, if you ever wondered why you see the number 13 associated with Swift so often, now you know.
