It's been 13 years since Taylor Swift earned her first-ever GRAMMY nomination , for Best New Artist.
Although she didn't take home that trophy in 2008 (the accolade went to Amy Winehouse), the singer has racked up a number of impressive GRAMMY wins over the years, including two for Album of the Year -- Fearless and 1989 -- and Best Music Video for "Bad Blood." Now, at age 31, Swift is up for six more GRAMMYs , including Album of the Year for Folklore (which she wrote and released last year amid the coronavirus pandemic) and Song of the Year for "Cardigan," at the upcoming ceremony on Sunday.
Ahead of show day, ET spoke with Swift about what it's like to be re-recording her songs on the 13th anniversary of her first nomination. She also reflected on her career, sharing the advice she'd give her younger self, knowing what she knows now.
"It's pretty wild how much time has passed since my first GRAMMY nomination. I still feel pretty lucky to still be a part of this night," Swift told ET's Keltie Knight, during a break from rehearsals this week. "I think the advice I would give myself when I was younger is probably to, when things get hard, always focus in on how much I love music."
"That has been the thing that, no matter what, has protected me from any of the other outside things that have made me feel strange," she continued. "I've never had a problem with the general fact of making music or playing music. I've never stopped loving it. It's been the outside stuff that has made me feel down at times."
Swift said there are two things in particular that have helped protect her over the course of her career: 1.) enthusiasm and 2.) how much she loves music.
"As soon as you fail, enthusiasm tells you that the next great idea is around the corner," she explained. "And your love of music will always center you, if you’re doing this for that, and that alone, because that is hard to take away."
"People can reduce and criticize other elements," she added. "It sounds really, really simple, but loving the actual making of music and the playing of music is what I think has really helped me balance things."
In addition to her GRAMMY nominations, Swift will also be taking the stage Sunday night to perform a few of her hits .
Check out this next:
Taylor Swift's 'Tim McGraw': What Inspired Her Bittersweet Debut?
If you're looking for a song that perfectly encapsulates the innocence and heartbreak of fleeting high school love, look no further than Taylor Swift 's "Tim McGraw." Released in 2006 as the debut single from her self-titled debut album, the song finds a 16-year-old Swift detailing the perfect summer with her boyfriend before he went off to college. She also recalls the pain and heartbreak felt after he left and their relationship ended. Although Swift sings of her sadness, she finds comfort in the thought that her long-lost love may think of her when he hears a specific Tim McGraw song on the radio.
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"When you think Tim McGraw, I hope you think my favorite song, the one we danced to all night long, the moon like a spotlight on the lake," she sings in the chorus.
At this point, Swift was already collaborating with top Nashville songwriters and writing songs at Sony/ATV music after school. She brought the idea to frequent collaborator Liz Rose, and the two finished the tune in 20 minutes. Rose shared that she wasn't initially sure about including McGraw's name in the song, but she let Swift take the reins.
"I was like, 'Ah, okay. We're really gonna write a song with Tim McGraw's name in it?'" she told iHeartRadio . "But I was like, 'Okay.'"
Read More: Taylor Swift is Re-Recording Her Second Album Fearless, Announces New Version of Love Story
Soon after writing the song, Swift secured her record deal with Big Machine Records. She played "Tim McGraw" for label head Scott Borchetta, who decided it would be her first single. Swift promoted the song on radio tour and during her opening slot on Rascal Flatts' Me and My Gang Tour. She also met McGraw for the first time and performed the song in front of him at the 2007 Academy of Country Music Awards. The song ended up peaking at No. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, a solid showing for a brand new, 16-year-old artist singing a song about an established country star.
While Swift was busy launching her career with her debut single, McGraw himself wasn't so sure about being the topic of a song from the new country artist.
"Well, when I first heard 'Tim McGraw' by Taylor Swift, I mean, I thought it was a good song. I was a little apprehensive about it when I first heard it," McGraw told Apple Music's Alecia Davis (quote via Billboard ). "Then I thought, 'Have I gotten to that age now to where they're singing songs about me? Does that mean I've jumped the shark a bit? Is everything still cool?'"
The country legend seemed to get over his apprehension pretty quickly, though, as he and wife Faith Hill invited Swift to open for their Soul2Soul II Tour , which ran from '06 to '07. He also famously collaborated with Swift on the 2013 track, "Highway Don't Care," also featuring Keith Urban .
From Flowers for Taylor Swift To Champagne for Reese Witherspoon, Here Are Some Celebrity Gifts
From Ivy Park boxes to flowers and handwritten notes, Beyoncé is known for her thoughtful gifts for other celebrities. This year was no exception, with Queen Bey even sending Taylor Swift a floral arrangement following the Grammy Awards.
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Of course, while attending the 2020 Golden Globes, Beyoncé and Jay-Z brought their own champagne to drink. Reese Witherspoon, known for her work in Legally Blonde and Big Little Lies, asked them for a glass. They said yes.
Following the award ceremony, the Carters sent over some champagne to the actor's house. She posted about it on social media, freaking out at the extravagant gift. This wasn't just any champagne. The couple sent Witherspoon a case of Ace of Spades champagne.
This artist made history at the Grammys, as the most-awarded artist ever. There were a few other musicians besides Beyoncé who celebrated accomplishments. Taylor Swift earned the Grammy award for Album of the Year for Folklore .
As a result, Beyoncé sent a floral arrangement to her house to congratulate her. Swift posted about it to social media, including a picture of the note from Queen Bey.
“Congratulations on your Grammy,” Beyoncé said in the handwritten note. “It was great seeing you on Sunday night. Thank you for always being so supportive. Sending love to you and your family."
To celebrate the birth of Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's first baby together — their daughter named Daisy Dove Bloom, Beyoncé sent the couple a whimsical floral arrangement. Katy Perry posted a picture of the flowers to her Instagram story, according to Harper's Bazaar , captioning it "ILY, Beyoncé."
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Beyoncé, herself, is a mother of three. The artist recently gave birth to twins, Rumi and Sir Carter. Her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, appeared on the song, "Brown Skin Girl," even earning a Grammy nomination for it.
Taylor Swift ends legal battle with US theme park - BBC News
Last month, Evermore Park filed a case against the Grammy-winner, claiming she had infringed its trademark with her album Evermore and its merchandise.
Swift counter sued three weeks later, saying the park was playing her music on its grounds without a licence.
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"As a resolution of both lawsuits, the parties will drop and dismiss their respective suits without monetary settlement," a spokesperson for Swift told the BBC in a statement.
The US singer's Evermore was her second surprise album of 2020. The other, Folklore, won album of the year at the recent Grammy Awards, making her the first woman to win in that category three times.
In other news, Swift released an unheard re-recorded version of her track You All Over Me - the first from her widely discussed "vault" - on Thursday.
The previously unheard song is one of several that didn't make it on to one of her albums. You All Over Me is taken from her Fearless recording sessions, and will feature on the re-recorded version of the album, which is due for release in April.
'Astronauts aren't just men - we're astronauts too' Video 'Astronauts aren't just men - we're astronauts too'
Quite a lot has been going on:
Taylor Swift won't reschedule postponed 'Lover Fest' shows - CNN
How Drummer Eric Slick Played on Taylor Swift's 'You All Over Me' - Rolling Stone
In February, the drummer Eric Slick got a text from his friend, the Philadelphia-based sound engineer Jon Low.
“Hey, do you want to play on some songs?” Low asked the Dr. Dog drummer and singer-songwriter.
The mystery song was by Taylor Swift , who was remaking “You All Over Me,” a previously unreleased outtake from her 2008 album Fearless. The new version is part of Swift’s larger effort to re-record (and thus regain control over ) of her previous albums.
But when Slick sat down to record his part in his Nashville home studio, he was unable to tell who he was playing drums for. “The song had vocals on it, but the vocals were muffled, so I had no idea what I was playing on,” he says. “The pitch was very low and kind of unrecognizable. To be honest with you, it sounded like Ween.”
Before the session, Slick had also heard from Aaron Dessner, who explained the vibe he and Low wanted for the track: “We’re just kind of going for old school Nashville,” Dessner had said. Slick, who grew up on progressive rock and free jazz, and first met Dessner at a Phillip Glass concert, admits that despite having recently moved to Nashville, his first reaction to this directive was, “I don’t really know what that means.”
Slick followed Dessner’s instruction to play along with the song’s drum machine track, but the process of coming up with a drum part without being able to hear the lyrics or melody was strange.
“I had to forge an emotional connection with a song that I knew nothing about,” he says. “I think drummers who are also songwriters tend to zero in on the vocals and the vocal rhythm and the cadence, and that’s what I’m usually playing along to, so I had to imagine what a vocal arc might sound like in the song and use my gut instincts of like, what do songs usually do? ‘Okay, here’s a crash there, because that’s what a song usually does.’”
Slick’s gentle roots drumming appears near the end of the song’s first chorus. “I’m always trying to come from a Jim Keltner or James Gadsden mindset when I play on a pop song, because that’s the thing that I think I can bring to the table,” he says.
Asked if Slick’s appearance on “You All Over Me,” which also features Maren Morris , was a one-off, or if he worked on multiple Swift tracks, Slick explains that he’s signed a non-disclosure agreement and is “not allowed to say anything.”
Taylor Swift's 10 Most Impressive Guinness World Records
When Taylor Swift rose to fame in 2006 after releasing her self-titled debut studio album no one could predict that the musician would have such an incredible career. Today, Taylor Swift is one of the most influential and successful musicians of her generation — and over the years she has released nine very successful studio albums.
Today, we're taking a look at some of the official Guinness World Records that Taylor Swift holds and no one can deny that these are extremely impressive. From winning most Album of the Year awards at the Grammys to having the most viewed VEVO video in 24 hours — keep on scrolling to see just what made the list!
Kicking the list off is the fact that Taylor Swift holds the current record for most No.1s on the US Digital Song Sales chart . As of February 27, 2021, the musician has had 22 number one singles including most recently her hit "Love Story (Taylor's Version)". Some other songs that have made it to spot number one include "Back to December", "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", "Bad Blood", and "Willow". When it comes to this record, Taylor Swift is followed by Rihanna (who has 14), Justin Bieber (who has 13), and Drake (who has 12).
Next on the list is the fact that Taylor Swift holds the record for most-viewed VEVO video in 24 hours . Taylor holds this record with the music video for the song "ME!" featuring Brendon Urie from Panic! At The Disco. Taylor has been holding this record since April 26, 2019, when the music video officially had 65.2 million views on YouTube .
Let's move on to the record for the fastest-selling digital album in the USA by a female artist which Taylor also holds.
When it comes to awards, it's also no surprise that Taylor holds some records. In particular, the pop star holds the record for most American Music Awards won with a whopping 29 awards. Taylor — who has been holding this record since November 24, 2019 — has won six trophies at the 2019 AMAs which took her ahead of Michael Jackson who has won 26 American Music Awards.
Next on the list is the record for the first artist to have singles enter the top 10 of the US hot 100 in successive weeks — which Taylor Swift also holds. Taylor has been holding this record since October 30, 2010, when she managed to have two singles debut in the Top 10 in successive weeks with "Speak Now" on October 23 and "Back To December" on October 30, 2010.
Let's move on to a record that Taylor Swift shares with Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon — most Album of the Year awards won at the Grammys by a vocalist . Taylor joined the record-holders in this category at this year's Grammy's when her album Folklore was named Album of the Year. Previously, the musician had won the award in 2010 for Fearless and in 2016 for 1989 . Taylor is also the only female artist that holds this record.
Taylor Swift donates $50,000 to Memphis family who lost their father to COVID-19 – FOX13 News
Vickie Quarles says she wishes she could connect with someone locally who has lost a loved one due to COVID-19. She says mentally and emotionally, she is a mess. She doesn't sleep or eat. She told FOX13 she hasn't even had a chance to process the donation given by Taylor Swift and her mother simply because she's trying to be a mother herself.
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"I think every day is just like a nightmare, and I feel like it's Groundhog Day," says Quarles. "I'm constantly waking up to the same emotions. I barely sleep. I barely eat. I sleep three to four times, probably three to four hours a night if that."
Quarles lost her best friend, soulmate, and father to their five children right before Christmas of last year due to COVID-19. She said now, just coping is a struggle.
"I wake up the same time that he passed everyday at 4:13 in the morning. I am lucky if I eat one meal a day," she said.
Quarles and her husband were together 15 years, married for 12. She says they were inseparable. Her girls, Alyssa, Anaya, Asia, Allie, and Aryah, were and still are all daddy's girls. Now they are all left only knowing that daddy is an angel who just got his wings.
"My girls were such - they were such daddy's girls and then to try to handle my girls' emotions on top of my emotions. My 11-year-old, she's not comprehending. She comprehends that her dad's not coming back, but she don't understand," Quarles said.
Quarles' friend DeQuanda Smith set up a GoFundMe account to help the family pay for their home and bills. Quarles says she actually forgot about the account, but Taylor Swift and her mother didn't. They donated $50,000 to the fund. Quarles is beyond thankful for the donation and personally thanked Swift but says she's really not even had an opportunity to slow down and actually process it.
"I know who she is. Yes, my girls are huge Taylor Swift fans. They actually did a little dance when I told them about it - the 'Shake It Off' dance - so they were really happy regarding her when I told them about it," said Quarles. "I haven't had time to process it or even really understand how I even got here basically."
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