American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has a successful music career that has spanned over a decade. Through her many successes, the 30-year-old icon made a name for herself in the music industry.
Making her music debut at fifteen, award-winning singer, Taylor Swift has built a successful empire through her singing prowess. Several years later, the 30-year-old’s career is still at its peak, making her one of the most renowned music artists of all time.
Although her journey to stardom seemingly came without pitfalls, Swift’s career had several tipping points, which served as defining moments in her rise to fame and affluence.
THE DEFINING MOMENTS IN TAYLOR SWIFT’S CAREER
Taylor Allison Swift debuted her career in 2004, signing with the record label, Sony/ATV publishing house at fourteen. The deal made her the youngest artist signed to the label. At fifteen, Swift landed her first record deal, releasing her debut album shortly after.
The music artist made her big break in 2008, with her “Fearless” album, which earned her four Grammys. In 2010, the icon made Time’s list of 100 most influential people in the world, an accolade she earned again in 2015, and 2019.
Rolling Stone named her one of the top 100 greatest songwriters of all time in 2015, and the next year, topped the Forbes Celebrity 100 list. Swift also made the list in 2019.
Taylor Swift became the Artist of the Decade, as well as Woman of the Decade in the 2010s as per Billboard. In addition to her numerous accolades, the singer snagged several awards, including 10 Grammys, 29 American Music Awards, 8 Academy of Country Music Award, and one Emmy. She also holds seven Guinness World records, among other achievements.
With so many achievements, one can’t help but wonder how this 30-year-old singer achieved so much in less than two decades since dropping her first single, “Tim McGraw.”
RELEASING HER FIRST SINGLE
On June 19, 2006, Taylor Swift released her first single titled “Tim McGrew,” under the Big Machine Records. The single stayed in the Billboard chart for 20 weeks, placing 40. It also hit No. 6 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
SWIFT’S FIRST ALBUM
The star dropped her first album on October 24, 2006. The eponymous album, released by Big Machine Records, made No. 16 on Billboard 200. Swift’s self-titled album remained on the chart for 277 weeks peaking at No. 5, making it the longest-charting album of the 2000s.
In February the next year, the second single on the icon’s debut album, “Teardrops On My Guitar,” peaked at No. 13 shortly after its release. It charted for 48 weeks on Billboard Hot 100 and became 2008’s Song of the Year.
The third single from the album, which dropped seven months later, placed No. 16 on Billboard Hot 100 for 36 weeks. “Our Song” went on to become Swift’s first single to hit No. 1 on Hot Country Songs chart.
TAYLOR SWIFT UNVEILS HER FIRST EP
Swift released her first Extended Play record, “Sounds Of The Season: Taylor Swift’s Holiday Collection, on October 14, 2007. The EP, released with the Big Machine Records charted No. 20 on Billboard 200 and No.1 on Top Holiday Albums.
Months later, the music legend dropped three new singles, “Forever And Always, ” “Holy Ground,” and “Last Kiss.”
The songs were reportedly inspired by Swift’s infamous breakup from Joe Jonas. The pair dated between July and October 2008 before Jonas ended the relationship over a 27-second phone call.
SNAGGING TWO SONG OF THE YEAR ACCOLADES
On September 12, 2008, Taylor Swift released the lead single, from “Fearless” her second studio album. The single, “Love Story,” ranked No.1 on Hot Country Songs. In addition, it remained on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 36 weeks, placing fourth.
Two months after it’s release, “Love Story” won the Song of the Year category at BMI’s 57 Country Awards. “Teardrops on My Guitar, ” also won the category that same year.
The album, “Fearless” soon became the longest chart-topper by a female country singer, staying No.1 on Billboard for 11 non-consecutive weeks.
ANOTHER HIT SINGLE
The icon’s single, “You Belong With Me,” made No.2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in August 2009. It also reached No.1 on Hot Country Songs chart. The song was at the time Swift’s highest-charting single on Billboard.
THE SWIFT-KANYE SAGA
Another breaking point in Taylor Swift’s life happened at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards. The songstress won the best female video category at the event. While rendering her acceptance speech, rapper, Kanye West took to the stage and interrupted the singer, pointing out that hip-hop icon, Beyonce, deserved the Award.
The controversial encounter increased the singer’s popularity.
THE “SPEAK NOW” ALBUM
Swift dropped her third studio album, “Speak Now,” on October 25, 2010. The album made No.1 on the Billboard 200 chart for 11 weeks.
A year later, the star won the American Music Award for Artist of the Year. Her spiraling rise to stardom led her to feature on the front covers of Vogue’s February 2012 edition.
SWIFT’S FOURTH ALBUM
“Red,” Taylor Swift’s fourth album, hit No. 1 on Billboard 200 in October 2012. Its lead single, “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” became the first of the singer’s songs to peak at No.1 on Billboard Hot 100 in August 2012.
She set out on the “Red” tour in March 2013, beginning at Omaha. The artist made history during the tour’s stop in Sydney, Australia, by selling out the Allianz Stadium, making her the first female artist to achieve the feat.
GETTING TO THE PEAK
Swift released another single, “Shake It Off,” which hit No.1 on Billboard Hot 100. Subsequently, she dropped her 2014 album, “1989,” which made No.2 on Billboard 200, remaining a top 10 pick for a whole year.
Two other singles, “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood,” reached No.1 on Billboard Hot 100 in 2014 and 2015, respectively. “Wildest Dreams” made No. 5.
In 2016, Swift snagged three Grammy wins, including the best vocal album and album of the year for her “1989” album. The third, best music video, was for the song, “Bad Blood.”
“Look What You Made Me Do,” from the album, “Reputation,” also became a Billboard 100 chart-topper in 2017.
On March 24, 2018, Swift released her sixth track “Delicate,” from the “Reputation” album. The single debuted at 46 on Billboard Hot 100, ranking the music artist among first ten most entries on the chart’s six-decade history.
TAYLOR SWIFT’S “FOLKLORE”
The songstress unveiled her eight studio album, “Folklore,” on July 24, 2020, releasing it 24 hours later. Taylor Swift wrote and recorded the album while in isolation due to the global coronavirus outbreak in early 2020.
Featuring top collaborators like Bon Iver, Antonoff, and Aaron Dessner, the album became an instant hit.
Within one week of its release, “Folklore” garnered widespread critical acclaim, with many tagging it Taylor Swift’s best album so far.
