Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the most successful and recognizable figures in contemporary music. With over 114 million records sold worldwide and numerous awards and accolades, including 12 Grammy Awards (and 46 nominations), she has achieved immense commercial success and critical acclaim. Her music has a wide appeal, spanning genres such as country, pop, and folk. Oh, and if you’re trying to get tickets to the latest Taylor Swift tour – good luck! Despite the astronomical prices of concert tickets these days, Taylor manages to practically sell out the biggest stadiums in the world.
In addition to her musical achievements, Taylor Swift has also been recognized for her activism and philanthropy, particularly in areas such as education, disaster relief, and LGBTQ+ rights.
So, it is safe to say that Taylor Swift has made a significant impact on the music industry and popular culture in general, and she remains a prominent figure in contemporary music.
1. The Chicks
Taylor Swift hasn’t been shy about crediting The Chicks as one of her biggest musical and character influences. She states that The Chicks were exemplary in demonstrating how powerful feminism could be in a musical context. In an interview Taylor did with Billboard, she singled out the song, “Goodbye Earl” as one song that brought her an important revelation: that “female rage” can be a potent bonding factor between women.
Also Read: Beyond Ariana Grande’s Musical Success: Her Philanthropic Causes
2. Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney is the No. 1 musical influence for countless guitarists, bassists, and songwriters alike. Well, Paul almost made the cut as Taylor Swift’s top pick; apparently, he is second in line to cats as her all-time greatest influence. In more than one interview, Taylor has talked about her admiration for Paul’s music and lifelong musical career. Fortunately for her, Paul is also a Taylor Swift fan! The two even posed together for the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine in 2020.
Also Read: Awful! Lynne Is Struggling To Pay Her Expenses, Working As A Substitute Teacher
3. Joni Mitchell
Dubbed one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Joni Mitchell is a beloved icon of the folk music genre. Her lyrical honesty is enough to make you fall in love with her unorthodox compositions. As Taylor Swift aspired for lyrical greatness and a sense of feminist empowerment, Joni Mitchell was a source of inspiration. Taylor has not only covered Joni Mitchell’s music before, but she was even rumored to prospectively portray the 70s songwriter in a biopic (though some sources say this casting idea was scrapped).
Also Read: America’s Dearest Golden Girl: Betty White, An Actress And Comedian
4. Fall Out Boy
Early in the age of Taylor Swift, a band called Fall Out Boy emerged as an outlier in the emo/alternative rock scene. Though from very different musical worlds, Taylor has noted that Fall Out Boy (sometimes shortened to “FOB”) has had a massive influence on her lyric writing. In 2013, T-Swift and FOB joined forces to perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
5. John Mayer
This last one may be a bit controversial for some obvious reasons. In the event you aren’t in-the-know, John Mayer is an ex-boyfriend of Taylor Swift. The relationship, which took place between 2009-2010, was very high profile and short-lived. However, things became contentious after both Taylor and John released their own diss tracks about each other and their perceived failures in the relationship. Nevertheless, before the all of the drama unfolded, John had an influence on Taylor’s writing, and she had an influence on his. In fact, they released a song together, “Half Of My Heart,” which aptly describes a couple with commitment issues.