A few years ago, I was thinking about some of my favorite female country stars. As much as I loved listening to singers like Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes growing up, I thought country music was due for a fresh, new artist that could bring in a younger audience and make country cool.
Once upon a time after American Idol, I dreamed that person could be me. Life took a different road, but there was one young girl I met during my music career pursuit that I knew had something big coming: Taylor Swift.
“Tim McGraw” was the golden song that catapulted Swift into the big time. It was the perfect mix of simple and sweet, nostalgic and easy for high school girls to remember and sing.
One of my good friends told me that she could relate completely to the words of the “Tim McGraw” song: "I felt like Taylor had written it just for me."
Another friend recently posted on Facebook, "I have yet to hear a Taylor Swift song I don't like."
I think that’s what makes Swift so successful. She writes from real-life experience, solidifying herself as the best friend, the “sneakers and bleachers” chick, the girl next door. Many of her songs are based on past relationships, much to the embarrassment of some of her ex-boyfriends.
“If you listen to my songs, it’s like reading my diary,” she has said.
Swift had been singing and writing since she was a tween. She knows exactly who her core audience is, yet is incredibly appealing to a wide audience — country and pop — because of her creativity, super catchy tunes and undeniable talent.
Determination has been her middle name, and through persistence and a lucky dose of triple-threat-talent (singing, writing, and playing) Swift has successfully placed herself among the country elite.
Besides winning numerous Grammy, CMA, and ACM awards and consistently cranking out multi-platinum selling records, in January 2010 Nielson SoundScan listed Swift as the most successful digital artist in music history with over 34.3 million digital tracks sold. She has also snagged the most coveted Entertainer of the Year award, the youngest person and one of only six women in CMA history ever to do so.
But what makes Swift so great is that none of this fame and incredible success has gone to her head. She is every bit as goofy, sweet, down to earth, and normal as she ever was, perhaps with a bit more life experience and creative breadth under her rhinestone belt.
She doesn’t place herself higher than anyone else, and always seems to be genuinely grateful for each new accolade presented to her. When I’ve been lucky enough to cross paths with her, she still remembers my name.
That’s what I love about Taylor Swift.