Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, director, philanthropist, businesswoman, and cultural icon. Her discography spans multiple genres and her narrative songwriting, which is often inspired by her personal life, has received widespread media coverage and critical praise.

Early Life

Taylor Swift was born on December 13, 1989, in Reading, Pennsylvania, and raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Andrea Gardner (née Finlay), a homemaker who previously worked in finance, and Scott Kingsley Swift, a stockbroker. Her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay (née Moehlenkmp), was an opera singer. Swift has a younger brother, Austin. She grew up on a Christmas-tree farm.

When Swift was in fourth grade, she won a national poetry contest with a three-page poem, "A Monster in My Closet!". At the age of ten, a computer repairman showed her how to play three chords on a guitar, sparking her interest in learning the instrument. Afterward, Swift wrote her first song, "Lucky You". When Swift was 12, she devoted an entire summer to writing a 350-page novel, which remains unpublished. She began writing songs regularly and used it as an outlet to help her with her pain from not fitting in at school. Swift was a victim of bullying, and spent her time writing songs to express her emotions. She also started performing at local karaoke contests, festivals, and fairs.

Swift began to regularly visit Nashville, Tennessee, and work with local songwriters. When she was 14, her family relocated to Nashville. Her first major show was a well-received performance at the Bloomsburg Fair. In Tennessee, Swift attended Hendersonville High School, but was subsequently homeschooled for her junior and senior years. In 2008, she earned her high school diploma.

Swift's greatest musical influence is Shania Twain. Her other influences include LeAnn Rimes, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and Swift's grandmother. Although her grandmother was a professional opera singer, Swift's tastes always leaned more toward country music. In her younger years, she developed a love for Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. She also credits the Dixie Chicks for demonsrating the impact that one can have by "stretching boundaries".

Taylor Swift Is TIME's 2023 Person of the YearThis was the year Taylor Swift perfected her craft—not just with her music, but in her position as the master storyteller of the modern era.

Fun Facts

1. While Taylor Swift writes all of her own music, she specifically wrote her entire Speak Now album all by herself. No co-writers, just her. The album was released in Oct. 2010, when Swift was just 20.

2. She grew up on a Christmas tree farm with her family in Pennsylvania. She references her time there on her holiday song of the same name.

3. She's named after James Taylor. That's right, from one music legend to another.

4. She's a former Abercrombie model. T.Swift modeled for the company in 2003.

5. She's the youngest solo artist to win Album of the Year. T.Swift was just 20 when she won the top honors in 2010 for her beloved album, Fearless.

6. Swift made history at the 2021 Grammys, becoming the first female artist to win Album of the Year three times.

7. As a child, Swift wanted to be a stockbroker, just like her dad! But she went on to find her true calling in music, later moving from Pennsylvania to Tennessee with her family to kick off her career.

8. She learned to play guitar around the age of 12 after learning a few chords from a technician who was fixing her computer. She then went on to write her first song, "Lucky You."

9. She's a godmother, holding that distinction for pal Jaime King's son Leo Thames.

10. Taylor spent her early years growing up on her family’s Christmas tree farm, which her father had bought off one of his clients.

11. Andrea wanted to name her daughter Taylor because she didn’t people to be able to know her gender just by reading her name.

12. Taylor wrote a 350-page novel when she was 12, which, so far, has never been published.

13. Taylor played a rebellious teen called Haley Jones in an episode of CSI in 2009; because of her love for the TV show, she also did a CSI remix of her song “You’re Not Sorry.”

14. When at home, Taylor doesn’t wear her contact lenses; she just keeps her glasses on.

15. She has a framed photo of the infamous 2009 Kanye West VMA scandal with the caption, "Life is full of little interruptions."

16. Taylor's 2015 Fourth of July party served as Ed Sheeran's first date with his now-wife.

17. Taylor's cats are all named after popular characters from film and TV: Olivia Benson, Meredith Grey, and Benjamin Button.

18. Taylor has written songs for other artists before, including "You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home" for the Hannah Montana movie and "Better Man" for Little Big Town.

19. Growing up in Reading, Pennsylvania, Taylor was a competitive horseback rider until age 12.

20. 13 is Taylor's "lucky number."