Taylor Blogs: Houston Rodeo and a giant stage

Hey!

I’m wiped out. I’ve been in the studio all day ( I know, I know.. We JUST put out a new album. I think I have a problem, I cannot stop writing songs.) It’s so much fun knowing that you can take your time, because you have like a year and a half to make something you’re really proud of. I love recording a few songs, waiting a few months, recording a few more.. Instead of devoting a few weeks to “record the album” and then it’s just done. I like dragging it out, that way you can be meticulous about every detail. Daydream about different ways to put the songs together, and then take them apart. I’m pretty obsessed with the whole process. So needless to say, it was good to be back in the studio with my redheaded producer who I missed terribly. 

Tomorrow I play the Houston Rodeo for the first time in my life. I’ve heard about it since I was born because my mom’s from Houston. They’re telling me really crazy things about the ticket sales so far, and I’m kind of in shock about how many of your beautiful faces I’m going to be seeing tomorrow. 🙂 I’m really excited about it, and I’d love to see you there! 

When we get back from Texas, I go straight into tour rehearsals for the Fearless tour. (!!!!) I can’t believe this is actually.. really… happening. They’ve set my stage up in this giant, massive warehouse and apparently it’s really something. Considering that the stage was originally inspired from a drawing I made a few years ago, I’ll be the most excited person in the room when we go over and see it for the first time. Then we start the hard part: Putting the show together. 

Again, I know I say thank you every 4 seconds, but.. guys.. Thanks for all of this. 

Wish me luck. See you in Houston 🙂

lovelovelove
-T-

Taylor Blogs: Putting off packing by blogging. :)

02.05.09

Hello there,

So I’ve been rehearsing all week with my band. I get up early in the morning, do phone interviews on the way to rehearsal, and practice all day. It’s been so much fun playing the new songs! We’re rehearsing for the 3 shows we’re doing before the Fearless tour kicks off in April. We’re playing the San Antonio Rodeo, the Houston Rodeo, and Plant City, FL because they’re awesome and I wanted to play there even if it was before the tour started. So we’re working up the new songs and practicing for these shows, and I’m so excited. Today Miley came to our rehearsal and we were working up the performance for the Grammys. We worked it up, practiced a bunch, and then ate an entire pizza. 

I can’t believe it but the first show for the Fearless Tour goes on sale tomorrow!! It’s not the first show we play on the tour (our opening night is in Indiana), but it’s the first show to put tickets on sale. It’s the LA show at the Staples Center. First of all, I can’t believe I’m playing the Staples Center. Wow. This is just.. Wow. I hope people show up. 

I think about this tour all day, every day. I’m so excited that Kellie’s coming out to open up– She’s been one of my best friends since we toured together a few years ago, and it’s gonna be hilarious to be on the road with her again. I can’t wait to go over to her bus and hang out with her and all of her tiny little animals that she has rapidly acquired. Between the cat, the dog, the snake, and the monkey… It’s going to be a trip. Or a zoo. Or both. I love her and I’m so lucky she’s coming out with me.

Also, there’s this new group called Gloriana that’s coming out with us. They’re AMAZING and I love their new single “Wild at Heart”. I heard it and immediately knew I wanted them on this tour. Check them out, I think you’ll agree. Everyone in Nashville is buzzing about them and now I get to have them out with ME this summer. Yessssss. 

I’m headed off to bed now. Tomorrow I leave again for 50 years. Actually, a few weeks. But basically, I have some major packing to do.

lovelovelove
-T-

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CMT Blog: Taylor Swift Before She Was “Taylor Swift”

By Whitney Self 01.30.09

I  took this photo of Taylor Swiftat the 2006 CMA Music Festival. She was singing on the Riverfront Park stage and was introduced as a new face in country music. I could tell she was a bit nervous and rather timid onstage, but she seemed to charm the crowd nonetheless. As I was looking through the viewfinder, clicking away, I knew she had something special.

Today she announced her Fearless Tour 2009 with Kellie Pickler and a new act, Gloriana. I couldn’t help but think back to this summer day when she was just a fresh-faced, 16-year-old hopeful. This was about the time she had released “Tim McGraw,” a sweet little ditty she had written in high school. This was long before she let anyone know about Drew or her“Teardrops,” before she had a “Picture to Burn” or advice in “Should’ve Said No.” This was prior to the days she would reign as the Academy of Country Music’s top new female vocalist, before she had become a triple-platinum selling artist, before she would become a top-selling artist throughout all genres … and before national stardom.

In just three years, Taylor Swift has lived the dreams most could only imagine. It makes me smile to think back when she was just a newcomer. Look at her now, aFearless favorite.

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Taylor Blogs: While I was in LA, my mom re-arranged my bathroom.

01.23.09

That’s probably my longest blog title yet, so if you weren’t able to experience the whole thing because it cut the last part off (due to being so long)… It said “While I was in LA, my mom re-arranged my bathroom”. As you can imagine, my bathroom looks different now. When I left for LA, my way of storing all of my make up and hair products was to pile it all on my bathroom counter. Most of it was grouped together in a very organized system (the pile). That’s not to say the system was not flawed. There was one tiny, insignificant recurring problem.. If you pulled one thing out of the middle of the pile, it would create a giant avalanche of lip gloss and eye shadow and other various cosmetics (sometimes a container of powder, which was undoubtedly left halfway closed– SO much fun to clean up!). I was fine with my system. 17% of the time, it worked perfectly without disastrous results. I wasn’t going to complain about it because whining isn’t really my thing, and I didn’t have time to create another system (this takes planning and brainstorming!). So my bathroom has stayed the same terrible mess of piled up beauty products for two years.. while I traveled the world with the sad, unorganized state of my bathroom perpetually weighing in the the back of my conscience. Then suddenly… EVERYTHING changed. I came back from LA and discovered a whole new world. My bathroom is now a magical, wondrous place with cabinets for storing make up and hooks on the door for holding scarves. There are even drawers for my hair brushes and incredible little shelves for my towels! There’s a new shower curtain in place of the one I’ve had since 7th grade (the one that has always secretly creeped me out a little, because it’s all these people standing around and it really looks like they’re watching me. Which was weird. I never liked them, and I’m glad they’re gone.) There are little windows in one of the dressers, and through it, I can see the candles I used to have stashed randomly on the counter. Now they have their perfect little home, all gathered together in their tiny, organized sanctuary. But then I turned around and was startled by something… Where was my Britney Spears poster…. No, this can’t be right… WHERE is it?!? I searched the room frantically for a few seconds before finding it’s new spot. My Britney Spears poster (from 6th grade) had been relocated to my bedroom, which is another AMAZING upgrade. This way, I see it more often and it more proudly displays my unwavering devotion to Britney Spears. My jewelry has been neatly placed into these little jewelry containers that separate your necklaces so they don’t get tangled into a huge unrecognizable, mangled ball that is IMPOSSIBLE to untangle. That used to happen to me all the time, but NOW it’s preventable! Also, I found so many things that went missing over the years.. The most notable find would have to be my glasses. I couldn’t believe it, but there they were! Apparently they had been lost somewhere in the giant pile of cosmetic doom.. I eventually gave up the search after a few weeks. Now they’re back! The moral of the story is… My mom is wonderful and we apparently share the same hobby: Compulsively organizing and straightening up around the house whenever we’re bored. 

I can’t wait to tell you all about LA and my life-changing guest appearance on CSI. Basically… When I’m really old and can only remember one story about my life to go back and relive, and tell over and over and over again to the point where my grandchildren roll their eyes and leave the room…… That’s the story. Ah, I can see it now. “You know, when I was a youngster, I got to guest star on CSI! It was marvelous! So marvelous, it was!” 

It was that good.

I’ll tell you all about the rest. I love you with all my heart.

lovelovelove
-T-

GAC: Taylor Swift Gets Personal

Dec. 31, 2008 — Taylor Swift was the best-selling country artist during the 2008 calendar year, and one of the reasons for that is her willingness to document her emotional life. 

Much of her first two albums have come from her disappointments in relationships, and she’s rather famously named names of ex-boyfriends in the process. It’s one of the ways she has proven to be authentic in her artistry. 

“When I knew something was going on in [an artist’s] personal life and they didn’t address it in their music, I was always very confused by that,” she told The New York Times. “I owe it to people from letting them in from Day 1.” 

Taylor’s stayed close to her audience by posting blogs regularly on her MySpace page and by tirelessly signing autographs and posing for pictures when she encounters fans. And the way she moves through the world will never leave anyone confusing her for Prince or Jennifer Lopez. 

“Intimidation isn’t what I’m going for,” she said. “I don’t have big security guards. I don’t have an entourage. I try to write lyrics about what’s happening to me and leave out the part that I live in hotel rooms and tour buses. It’s the relatability factor. If you’re trying too hard to be the girl next door, you’re not going to be.” 

As 2008 transitions into 2009, Taylor is the girl in your television. She’s set to appear with Kellie Pickler, Ryan Seacrest and the Jonas Brothers in Times Square on Wednesday for the ABC special “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.” And she’s hosting GAC’s Top 50 Videos Of 2008, airing nightly through Friday. 

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Taylor Blog: Back at Number 1? Seriously??

From Taylor’s Official Myspace

12.17.08

Hey!

So I’m laying in bed, half asleep. I got my wisdom teeth taken out the day before yesterday, and I’m feeeeling it. Yeah. It’s forcing me to sit still for a few days, which I probably needed. Caitlin, Grant, and Paul (my band mates) are on their way over to keep me company. Yayyy.

MTV Newsroom: Oh, Joe Jonas — you’ve got it so tough.

11.14.08

Oh, Joe Jonas — you’ve got it so tough.

All week long, that bitter, horrible, blond wench Taylor Swift’s been dragging your good name through the press, making you look like a two-timing jerk, and that’s just not right. I feel bad for you, man. You met Camilla Belle while shooting the video for “Lovebug,” and sparks flew. It’s not your fault the heart wants what the heart wants — and that gorgeous girl you were dating should be more understanding of that.

I read your MySpace blog, and I get it, man. You just wanted different things — and a different girlfriend — and Swift should just accept that and move on already. I believe you when you say you didn’t cheat on Taylor; I’m sure you waited at least a day after the breakup before making time with Camilla. Swift, quite frankly, should thank you for your loyalty, because lesser men wouldn’t have waited like you did.

 

I’m not so sure I believe Swift when she says you ended things over the phone, or that it only took you 27 seconds to let her go. And even if that is true, it’s not your fault; you’re a busy dude, and breaking up in person — like a man — isn’t always possible. It’s not like you could afford to travel anywhere in the U.S. at the drop of a hat to do the stand-up thing. Taylor just has to be more considerate of that and take your feelings into consideration before she goes around spewing this venom to Ellen.

Good luck, Joe. I know you’re going through a difficult time right now, and it won’t be the last time you’re forced to deal with a jaded lover. Just hang in there and follow your heart. Have fun with Camilla and don’t let this Taylor chick get you down anymore. The most important thing is that your fans know you’re “one of the good guys” still, even if you do just love ‘em and leave ‘em.

Review: Blog Critics

Taylor Swift’s newest album, Fearless, which came out Tuesday, is crushing all the charts. The eighteen-year-old singer/songwriter now has 13 of the Top 15 songs on iTunes’ Top Country Songs chart, including the entire Top 10. If that wasn’t enough, Taylor also has two songs in the Top 15 of Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 singles chart, AND Fearless holds the #1 slot at the top of iTunes all-genre Top Albums. Taylor is the only female artist ever of the Billboard country chart to release five consecutive Top Ten singles from a debut album. If her songs get any hotter, people are going to start fainting.

CMT Blog: Taylor Swift’s First Kiss Makes Me Remember Mine

Posted: November 12th, 2008 at 6:34 pm  |  By: Alison Bonaguro  

Taylor Swift was 15 when she had her first kiss. “I was, like, the oldest one out of all of my friends to ever kiss a boy. Isn’t that weird? But I ended up dating him for almost a year. It was after I moved. Tennessee. Freshman year. First boyfriend,” Swift told me during an interview last month.

cmt.com HOT DISH: Taylor Swift Prepares for Release of New Album

She Gives the “Swift Kick” and Grabs National Attention for Country Music

November 10, 2008; Written by Hazel Smith

Hot Dish

(CMT Hot Dish is a weekly feature written by veteran columnist Hazel Smith. Author of the cookbook, Hazel’s Hot Dish: Cookin’ With Country Stars, she also hosts CMT’s Southern Fried Flicks With Hazel Smith and shares her recipes at CMT.com.)

 

Until she giggles like a teenybopper or squeals, “Awesome,” one would think they were speaking with an adult on the phone and not with 18-year-old Taylor Swift. You just cannot believe that the voice on the other end of the line belongs to the tall, slender girl with the long, blonde curls.