Some might see Taylor Swift's career as a tale of storybook success, and, in fact, there is quite an apt storybook beginning to her tale: she spent her early years growing up on a Christmas tree farm. The rural Pennsylvania native showed an early interest in music, and some of her first public performances were as a karaoke singer at local malls. At age 11, she sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at a Philadelphia 76ers NBA game. After relocating with her family to Nashville at age 14, Swift honed her performance and songwriting skills. While singing at the Bluebird Cafe she was spotted by music executive Scott Borchetta, who signed her to his label, Big Machine Records.

In 2006 Swift released her self-titled debut album, which featured the Top 20 hits "Teardrops On My Guitar" and "Our Song." A year later, Swift earned her first career GRAMMY nomination for Best New Artist at the 50th GRAMMY Awards. Swift's second album, 2008's Fearless, was a multi-platinum success that transformed her from a country queen to a crossover sensation. The album netted Swift four GRAMMYs at the 52nd GRAMMY Awards: Album Of The Year, Best Country Album, and Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for "White Horse." At the 54th GRAMMY Awards, Swift picked up two more GRAMMYs for "Mean," a song featured on her third album, 2010's Speak Now. Her latest studio album, 2012's Red, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and her kiss-off No. 1 hit "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" earned a 55th GRAMMY nod for Record Of The Year. In addition to performing at the 55th GRAMMY Awards, Swift picked up Best Song Written For Visual Media honors for "Safe & Sound," a collaboration with the Civil Wars featured in the film Hunger Games.