Taylor Swift is on an Interesting Trajectory!

So it was in 2006 and I was working for a pop station.  We had a country station in the same building that I had worked at for 12 years and they had a new artist coming in named Taylor Swift. 

I met her and thought that she matched the type of female country artist every record company was trying to churn out to be the next Carrie, Shania, or Faith.  The only thing different about this gal is she was REALLY young and she brought a guitar along and sang songs SHE WROTE.  She was also extremely humble and funny.  She cracked jokes with a humor that was beyond a typical country singer's range.

She came back to our little town to perform for free at a free outdoor event we were doing.  She did a little known song that was just starting to get some airplay called "Tim McGraw" and then launched into a very personal ditty called "Teardrops On My Guitar."  I liked her stuff, but I thought country would find her too folky and since the format is run primarily by an annoying boys club I thought she didn't have a chance since they'd already handed all the control over to another blond whose last name was Underwood.

Here we are at the beginning of the "Tennies" and Taylor has had a couple songs crossover from the country charts as well as had numerous number ones on said chart.  The tabloid machine is following her closely and trying to find anything to use against her.  They know how well she's liked so any scandal would be lots of issues sold. 

What will happen?  Taylor is going to keep writing and singing songs no matter who's listening or how many paparazzi are outside her door.  I just hope she doesn't get caught up into the crazy world that is Hollywood.  There is always the newest and craziest addictions that are shoved into the faces of the biggest stars.  Some succumb, some summon up the strength that made the popular in the first place and avoid it. 

Country at some point will reject her.  They hate it when someone gets too popular or too pop.  Taylor is walking down that Shania/Faith road.  She should keep an eye, or ear, on what her music's base is.  If it's pop, she can go the Dixie Chicks route, produce a pop record, and win all the Grammies.  Or she can go the Shania/Faith route where country and pop audiences began turning their backs.  OR she can try to keep it country. 

Whatever it is, we'll all be watching and listening!