TAYLOR SWIFT BASIC FACTS, MUSICAL INFLUENCES AND HER FAMOUS SONGS

TAYLOR SWIFT BASIC FACTS

Name               Taylor Alison Swift

Birthday            December 13, 1989

Hometown        Wymossing, PA

Country Style    Contemporary Country

MUSICAL INFLUENCES

Her grandmother, who was an opera singer, Garth Brooks, LeAnn Rimes, and Tim McGraw.

Taylor's Songwriting:

Taylor is the first female solo country artist to have written or co-written all the songs on her Platinum-selling debut. The album has since sold over 3 million copies.

The Myspace Generation:

Taylor Swift gained a huge following through her MySpace page early on in her career. She made a point to connect personally with fans every day, and answer questions, and it has grown so much that she's become the No. 1 Country artist on Myspace, and her music has surpassed over 40 million streams. In 2007, when she won CMT's Breakthrough Video award, she thanked her "Myspace fans," and said she would bring the award on the road with her when she went on tour with Brad Paisley, later that year, which she did. She even let fans pose with the award.

What a Doll!:

Country singer Taylor Swift broke through in 2006 with her hit song "Tim McGraw," recorded when she was still 16 years old. Raised just outside of Reading, Pennsylvania, Swift began singing at local events when she was a kid, and even sang the national anthem at a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game when she was 11. To pursue her career in country music, Swift and her family moved near Nashville, Tennessee when she was 13. Her beauty-pageant looks and surprisingly seasoned country vocal style made her a star on Country Music Television, and her video for "Tim McGraw" -- a wistful ballad of romantic longing ("When you think Tim McGraw / I hope you think of me") -- was voted a fan favorite. She released her self-titled debut album in late 2006 and quickly became a star singer and songwriter, nominated for a Grammy Award and by the Academy of Country Music as best new female vocalist. Before she was even 18 Swift was touring nationally with top stars such as Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts. Her 2008 album Fearless produced the hit singles "Love Story" and "You Belong With Me."

EXTRA CREDIT

She's hardly the first country star to have a doll designed in her likeness, but in the fall of 2008, fans were able to buy Taylor Swift fashion dolls, and dress the doll in outfits that Taylor has worn. There's even a replica of her trademark crystal guitar.

Swift was stunned by Kanye West at the MTV Music Video Awards on 13 September 2009. Swift was accepting her video for Best Female Video when Kanye grabbed the microphone and announced to the crowd, "I'm sorry, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!"

SWIFT SONGS

1.  "Our Song"

2.  "Love Story"

3.  "You Belong With Me"

4.  "Teardrops on My Guitar"

5.  "Should've Said No"

6.  "Tim McGraw"