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TORONTO, ONTARIO - SEPTEMBER 09: (NO COVERS) Taylor Swift attends 'In Conversation With... Taylor Swift' during the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 09, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Wildest Dreams: The moments that shaped Taylor Swift’s mega career

Olivia Harris
1 min read·February 15, 2024 - 6:57PM
News Corp Australia Network

From humble beginnings to billionaire status, it’s safe to say that Taylor Swift has conquered the music industry. With 14 Grammy awards and the highest-grossing tour of all time, Swift has catapulted herself into a global phenomenon. We take a look at her defining eras - including the moment she transformed into a feline for the movie Cats. Scroll down to see the photo.

A tiny Taylor Swift poses with her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, at her home on a Christmas tree farm in West Reading, Pennsylvania. “She was always singing music when she was three, five, six or seven years old,” proud dad Scott told UDaily. Taylor was born in 1989 and is not yet two years old in this sweet family portrait. Taylor often reminisces about her life on the farm. Picture: Supplied
A tiny Taylor Swift poses with her parents, Andrea and Scott Swift, at her home on a Christmas tree farm in West Reading, Pennsylvania. “She was always singing music when she was three, five, six or seven years old,” proud dad Scott told UDaily. Taylor was born in 1989 and is not yet two years old in this sweet family portrait. Taylor often reminisces about her life on the farm. Picture: Supplied

 

A young Taylor oozes style in her tie-dye t-shirt. Little did she know she would go on to be one of the world’s most prolific musicians. Picture: Supplied
A young Taylor oozes style in her tie-dye t-shirt. Little did she know she would go on to be one of the world’s most prolific musicians. Picture: Supplied

 

Taylor Swift makes an appearance at the 2006 Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, two years after her record deal. Picture: Denise Truscello/WireImage
Taylor Swift makes an appearance at the 2006 Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards, two years after her record deal. Picture: Denise Truscello/WireImage

 

Taylor Swift performs to an intimate crowd. The young star released her debut album, “Taylor Swift”, at the age of 16. Picture: Supplied
Taylor Swift performs to an intimate crowd. The young star released her debut album, “Taylor Swift”, at the age of 16. Picture: Supplied

 

Taylor performs during the first-ever Academy Of Country Music New Artists' Show Party for a Cause, in Las Vegas. She wore her signature cowboy boots that featured her name in a heart. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Taylor performs during the first-ever Academy Of Country Music New Artists' Show Party for a Cause, in Las Vegas. She wore her signature cowboy boots that featured her name in a heart. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

 

Taylor sings the national anthem before a baseball game at her home stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania. Picture: Krissy Krummenacker/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle/Getty Images
Taylor sings the national anthem before a baseball game at her home stadium in Reading, Pennsylvania. Picture: Krissy Krummenacker/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle/Getty Images

 

Taylor Swift accepts Breakthrough Video of the Year award for "Tim McGraw" at the Academy Of Country Music Awards. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Taylor Swift accepts Breakthrough Video of the Year award for "Tim McGraw" at the Academy Of Country Music Awards. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

 

Fans try to get photos and autographs of Taylor Swift as she attends the 2008 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Picture: Rick Diamond/WireImage
Fans try to get photos and autographs of Taylor Swift as she attends the 2008 CMT Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee. Picture: Rick Diamond/WireImage

 

Taylor is astounded as she wins "Song of the Year" at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville. Picture: Rick Diamond/WireImage
Taylor is astounded as she wins "Song of the Year" at the BMI Country Awards in Nashville. Picture: Rick Diamond/WireImage

 

Swift performs hits from her second album, “Fearless”, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It became the longest Billboard chart-topper by a female country artist. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP
Swift performs hits from her second album, “Fearless”, at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It became the longest Billboard chart-topper by a female country artist. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

 

The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards brought drama as Kanye West interrupted Taylor’s acceptance speech, insisting that Beyoncé should have won for “Single Ladies”. The incident sparked a decade-long feud between the musicians. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
The 2009 MTV Video Music Awards brought drama as Kanye West interrupted Taylor’s acceptance speech, insisting that Beyoncé should have won for “Single Ladies”. The incident sparked a decade-long feud between the musicians. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

 

Taylor is surrounded by fans as she signs their copies of her third album, “Speak Now”. Picture: Peter Kramer/NBCUniversal/Getty Images
Taylor is surrounded by fans as she signs their copies of her third album, “Speak Now”. Picture: Peter Kramer/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

 

Taylor poses with Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry. Her and Perry would go on to have a long-lasting feud that was eventually resolved in 2019. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Taylor poses with Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry. Her and Perry would go on to have a long-lasting feud that was eventually resolved in 2019. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

 

You know you’ve made it when you’re in wax. Taylor unveils herself at Madame Tussauds in New York. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
You know you’ve made it when you’re in wax. Taylor unveils herself at Madame Tussauds in New York. Picture: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

 

Taylor celebrates her first Grammys win and accidentally drops one of her four awards when posing in the press room. Picture: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Taylor celebrates her first Grammys win and accidentally drops one of her four awards when posing in the press room. Picture: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

 

Taylor celebrates winning with her bestie, Selena Gomez, at 2011’s American Music Awards. Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Taylor celebrates winning with her bestie, Selena Gomez, at 2011’s American Music Awards. Picture: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

 

Taylor Swift sits next to Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour in New York City. Picture: Charles Eshelman/Getty Images
Taylor Swift sits next to Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour in New York City. Picture: Charles Eshelman/Getty Images

 

Taylor Swift and Shania Twain share a moment during their recreation of "Thelma & Louise" for the CMT Music Awards. Picture: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT
Taylor Swift and Shania Twain share a moment during their recreation of "Thelma & Louise" for the CMT Music Awards. Picture: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for CMT

 

Swift wins the Artist of the Year award at the 2011 American Music Awards. Picture: Joe Kohen/WireImage
Swift wins the Artist of the Year award at the 2011 American Music Awards. Picture: Joe Kohen/WireImage

 

Taylor Swift performs her new single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," which later became her first to hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. Picture: Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images
Taylor Swift performs her new single, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," which later became her first to hit No.1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. Picture: Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty Images

 

Taylor celebrates her Grammy wins for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for "Mean". Picture: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Taylor celebrates her Grammy wins for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for "Mean". Picture: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

 

Taylor released her fourth studio album, Red, in 2014. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Taylor released her fourth studio album, Red, in 2014. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images

 

Taylor Swift performs her RED tour to over 40,000 fans, becoming the first female artist to sell out a show Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for TAS
Taylor Swift performs her RED tour to over 40,000 fans, becoming the first female artist to sell out a show Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images for TAS

 

Taylor Swift debuts her album 1989, which spent a full first year in the Top 10 in the US. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS
Taylor Swift debuts her album 1989, which spent a full first year in the Top 10 in the US. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS

 

Taylor Swift performs as model Karlie Kloss walks the runway during the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in London. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Taylor Swift performs as model Karlie Kloss walks the runway during the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in London. Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

 

10 years after her record deal, Swift is already an international superstar. Here publications grace the wall at "The Taylor Swift Experience" at The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. Picture: Araya Doheny/WireImage
10 years after her record deal, Swift is already an international superstar. Here publications grace the wall at "The Taylor Swift Experience" at The GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles. Picture: Araya Doheny/WireImage

 

Taylor poses with her eight Billboard Music Awards at the 2015 ceremony. Picture: C. Flanigan/FilmMagic
Taylor poses with her eight Billboard Music Awards at the 2015 ceremony. Picture: C. Flanigan/FilmMagic

 

Taylor performs onstage during The 1989 World Tour Live In Los Angeles. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for TAS
Taylor performs onstage during The 1989 World Tour Live In Los Angeles. Picture: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for TAS

 

Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift attend the 2016 Grammy Awards. She won three awards and became the first woman to win Album of the Year twice. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift attend the 2016 Grammy Awards. She won three awards and became the first woman to win Album of the Year twice. Picture: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

 

Taylor Swift performs onstage in Houston, Texas. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for DIRECTV
Taylor Swift performs onstage in Houston, Texas. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for DIRECTV

 

A behind the scenes peek at the recording of Swift’s sixth album, Reputation.
A behind the scenes peek at the recording of Swift’s sixth album, Reputation.

 

Taylor performs in Sydney for her 2018 ‘Reputation’ tour, which became the highest-grossing tour in US history at that time. Picture: Don Arnold/TAS18/Getty Images
Taylor performs in Sydney for her 2018 ‘Reputation’ tour, which became the highest-grossing tour in US history at that time. Picture: Don Arnold/TAS18/Getty Images

 

In 2019, Taylor became the highest-awarded person in the American Music Awards history, racking up 28 wins. Picture: John Shearer/AMA2019/Getty Images
In 2019, Taylor became the highest-awarded person in the American Music Awards history, racking up 28 wins. Picture: John Shearer/AMA2019/Getty Images

 

Taylor Swift stars as Bombalurina in the 2019 “Cats” movie. Despite widespread criticism for the motion picture, Swift scored a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. Picture: Universal Pictures
Taylor Swift stars as Bombalurina in the 2019 “Cats” movie. Despite widespread criticism for the motion picture, Swift scored a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song. Picture: Universal Pictures

 

Swift had a busy lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, and released her albums “folklore” and “evermore” just five months apart. Picture: Supplied
Swift had a busy lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, and released her albums “folklore” and “evermore” just five months apart. Picture: Supplied

 

Taylor plays the guitar with her cat in a scene from her 2020 documentary, “Miss Americana”. The feature gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at Swift's story, as told in her own words. Picture: Netflix
Taylor plays the guitar with her cat in a scene from her 2020 documentary, “Miss Americana”. The feature gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at Swift's story, as told in her own words. Picture: Netflix

 

Taylor Swift wins the Album of the Year for “folklore” at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Taylor Swift wins the Album of the Year for “folklore” at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

 

In 2021, Taylor decides to re-record her back catalogue after a longstanding dispute with her former manager and record label. Here she performs at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. Picture: Kevin Kane/Getty Images
In 2021, Taylor decides to re-record her back catalogue after a longstanding dispute with her former manager and record label. Here she performs at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony. Picture: Kevin Kane/Getty Images

 

Taylor becomes the first woman ever to accept the award for Global Icon at The BRIT Awards. Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
Taylor becomes the first woman ever to accept the award for Global Icon at The BRIT Awards. Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

 

Taylor Swift delivers the New York University 2022 Commencement Address after receiving an honorary doctorate in fine arts. Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Taylor Swift delivers the New York University 2022 Commencement Address after receiving an honorary doctorate in fine arts. Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

 

Taylor wins nine awards at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, winning in every single category in which she was nominated. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Taylor wins nine awards at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, winning in every single category in which she was nominated. Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

 

The era of the Eras Tour: Taylor in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The tour is the highest-grossing of all time, with the star set to make at least $4.1 billion in revenue. Picture: Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images
The era of the Eras Tour: Taylor in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The tour is the highest-grossing of all time, with the star set to make at least $4.1 billion in revenue. Picture: Kevin Mazur/TAS23/Getty Images

 

Taylor accepts the Album Of The Year award for “Midnights”, making history as the first artist to win the accolade four times. She celebrated by announcing the upcoming release of her 11th album, “The Tortured Poets Department”. Picture: Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Taylor accepts the Album Of The Year award for “Midnights”, making history as the first artist to win the accolade four times. She celebrated by announcing the upcoming release of her 11th album, “The Tortured Poets Department”. Picture: Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/photos/wildest-dreams-the-moments-that-shaped-taylor-swifts-mega-career/news-story/b4046272d4ece34a33cfc5db4709f510