9781422286630

Introduction The girl who burst onto the

lives of her millions of fans with her music. Swift’s fourth album “Red” topped the Billboard 200, the UK chart, and the country albums listings in October 2012 thanks to an impressive first-week performance that gave her the third biggest-selling album of the year behind Adele’s “21” and One Direction’s “Up All Night.” Yet her appeal is neither Ms. Adkins’ big voice or the British boy band’s sex appeal but a folksy, homespun charm, and a willingness to share

her innermost thoughts and secrets with her audience. Taylor Swift’s wealth was estimated in 2012 as over $165 million, and she has already started using her money and fame to support arts education, literacy, and children’s charities. In short, she is a girl with a talent she has worked hard at perfecting, and this has now put her in a position to give back to the less fortunate citizens of a nation that has taken her very much to heart. Long may she sing!

scene in 2006 with her self-titled first long-player is sitting pretty at the top of the pop tree with four albums, several hit singles, and countless music-industry awards to her name. Yet she has virtually no entourage, still hangs out with childhood friends, and is someone who could easily be walked past in the street. Taylor enjoys the best of both worlds and, unspoiled by fame, is happy enough living an everyday life off stage before lighting up the

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