Stepping off Music Row and into the small but stylish
lobby of Big Machine Records, a visitor quickly realizes
it’s not just the walls that reveal the story
of Taylor Swift’s meteoric rise to stardom. Even
the floors have a tale to tell. With much of the vertical
real estate already claimed by industry awards, framed
national magazine covers, and gold and platinum records,
the staff has adopted the tactic of neatly stacking
the continuous stream of accolades and achievements
along the baseboards. All that’s needed is a break
in a busy intern’s schedule to grab a hammer,
a few nails and search out any open wall space.
The photo most often found framed inside with all that
precious metal is certainly a familiar one to millions
of her fans: the cover of her first album, 2006’s
Taylor Swift. Knowing what we know now about Taylor,
it’s a striking image. Gazing back at us are the
calm yet intense eyes of a sixteen-year-old girl who
knows she has much to say, but isn’t really sure
if anyone will want to listen.
"It’s crazy, the first time making an album,
not knowing if people are going to care what I write
in a song," Swift admits. "And then the second
time around ... knowing that there are people who are
going to know the lyrics that mean so much to me. It
makes it all worthwhile."
A second time around. It’s hard to believe it’s
already time for Taylor to follow up her triple platinum
debut. Especially considering that, two years after
its release, it is still near the top of the country
charts.
What’s even harder to believe is that Taylor
Swift has yet to turn nineteen.
And when it came time to put a name to her sophomore
effort, Swift decided on one word that just might be
the perfect adjective to describe her journey to this
moment. FEARLESS.
After all, this is the girl who, at the tender age
of 10, had the guts to take the stage at every karaoke
contest, festival, and county fair that passed through
her hometown of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. This is the
girl, who at age 11, took a trip to Music City and left
in her wake a trail of amused receptionists as she dropped
off her homemade demo tape at every label in town. This
is the girl who, at only 14, relocated with her entire
family to Nashville to sign a songwriting deal with
one of the most prestigious publishers in all of music.
This is the teenager who signed her first record deal
before she could drive. Who sidestepped the major labels
in town to take a chance with a smaller start-up label.
Who had the guts to step from an ACM awards stage and
into the audience to introduce herself to Tim McGraw
live on national television – just seconds after
playing the last chord of her first hit song that bears
his name.
.