Taylor's swift rise
She landed a Nashville songwriting contract at age 14. Now at 18, with a hit record and awards-show wins, no star in country music may be hotter than Taylor Swift.
By Dennis McCafferty
The musical education of Taylor Swift began in Reading, Pa., where she grew up listening intently to the great female country stars. Faith Hill's songs taught her about the connection that an artist can make through powerful singing. The Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain demonstrated how much impact can be made by stretching boundaries.
"I'm so lucky to have these experiences."
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Today, with a smash self-titled debut album that's approaching triple-platinum, it's refreshing that Swift still considers herself a student -- even though she's every bit the female country star as her influences. Her "classroom" is on the road, touring with stars as diverse and popular as Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts and George Strait.
"You can learn so much from watching how these guys approach their work on the road," says Swift, 18. "Kenny is up at the crack of dawn, walking around the venue, gettingto know everyone, from the sound-check guys to the people who sell the souvenirs to the fans. Then, Rascal Flatts stages this big production with all the flash. And George Strait? It's all about the music with him. He pays so much attention to building up the song, with the arrangements and the band and his singing. I'm so lucky to have these experiences. I can take something from each of the people I've toured with for my own act."
Swift is learning her lessons well. During the last year, she's exploded upon the country music scene with huge record sales, sold-out shows and high-profile awards. On Monday night, Swift will return to the scene of her first major hardware win, as she presents the USA WEEKEND Breakthrough Video of the Year at Country Music Television's Music Awards (8 p.m. ET/PT). In 2007, she won the breakthrough award for the video of her smash hit, "Tim McGraw." It started what continues to be a roll for Swift, as she subsequently won the much-coveted 2007 Country Music Association Horizon Award -- and earned a Grammy nomination this year for Best New Artist.
The breakthrough award sticks with her, given that it was the first and from her fans. "I still take the award with me to all the fan appearances so they can get their picture taken with it," Swift says. "It's a fan-voted award, which is why it means so much to me -- and them."
If Swift's career seems blessed, don't think it's all about precocious natural talent and her Faith Hill Version 2.0 looks. Despite her young age, Swift has been working for years to reach this point. In Reading, after hitting the karaoke circuit and writing songs, she recorded her first demos at age 10. Her father, Scott, is a successful stockbroker who moved his family near Nashville after it was clear that his daughter had both the talent and drive to make it in the business. "They didn't put me under pressure at all," she says. "It wasn't like, 'This is your one shot, so make it happen.' They presented it as a move to a nice community. If I made something out of it, great. But if that didn't happen, that's OK, too."
The move paid off. Honing her creative chops, Swift landed a songwriting contract with Sony ATV at age 14 and then started recording in Nashville. Big Machine Records offered a contract during her sophomore year of high school -- she'd record in the studio after school -- and, with "Tim McGraw," her career took off.
When not touring, she relaxes at home with her family or takes in a Nashville Predators hockey game with pals Kellie Pickler and Carrie Underwood.
Taking a cue from her country music idols, Swift doesn't take her fans for granted. She e-mails them every day. And she draws the line at certain star behavior that defines the Britneys and Lindsays of today. "I have moms coming up to me now saying that they're so happy that their little girls love my music because they feel that I am a good role model," Swift says. "That message has stuck with me. I'm going to stay on course and not fall off the deep end. I don't want to end up in rehab. I promise you that I won't."
Cover and cover story photographs of Taylor Swift by Joseph Anthony Baker for USA WEEKEND; styling: Sandi Spika; cover clothing: dress by Arden B., bracelets from Nashville's Hud Luxe Clothing; clothing inside: dress by Max Studio
CMT Music Awards
Watch this Monday at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
The event is equal parts awards show, concert and party -- a fan-fueled celebration withboldface names as eclectic as Jeff Foxworthy, William Shatner, Maya Angelou, Russell Crowe, Martin Scorsese, Jon Bon Jovi, Sissy Spacek and, of course, an A-list of country stars. Country Music Television's (CMT) Music Awards night, in its seventh year, has emerged as a "must see" for country fans, if just for its unpredictability and homespun humor.
And it's country music fans who vote for winners -- giving them a "final say" that further serves as a direct connect to the broadcast. "Other awards shows like the Oscars and the Emmys are filled with industry types," says Brian Philips,executive vice president andgeneral manager of CMT. "With our awards, there isn't any layer in between the fans and the winners. There's no guild or associationvoting here."
This year's show promises to be the most star-studded yet, with Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus hosting. Performers include Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood and Toby Keith.
It's a first!
In its seventh year, the CMT breakthrough video award becomes the USA WEEKEND Breakthrough Video of the Year award at this year's CMT Music Awards. Previously named CMT breakthrough winners include Gretchen Wilson and Carrie Underwood. "The award is a virtual GPS system when it comes to spotting artists on the rise," says Jack Curry, executive editor of USA WEEKEND. "That's what we do at our magazine. And that's why we came together with CMT."