Awesome+Doctrine

Taylor Swift singing the National Anthem when she was 11, at the 76ers game! media type="youtube" key="88Iw1XPiB3w" height="315" width="420" In Reading Pennsylvania on December 13, 1989 an amazing country singer was born. In the summertime, Taylor and her family spent a lot of time vacationing in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. At a young age, Taylor had a love of horseback riding. When Taylor was around the age of 10, she had an extreme song writing and singing interest. She began to compose music. Taylor first learned how to play the guitar after a computer repair man taught her how to play three chords, which led her to write her first song called, "Lucky You." Taylor began to perform at festivals, fairs, coffee shops, and sang the National Anthem at sports games.

Her parents, Scott and Andrea, decided to try to pursue Taylor's dream, so Taylor and her parents moved to Nashville when she was eleven. She faced a lot of rejection by record companies and even her peers. Taylor was signed by Big Machine Records at the age of fifteen.She was the first person signed on to that company since it was new. It took her three years to finally get signed. Taylor realized she had big dreams to pursue.

media type="youtube" key="Rh6k7iW0eY0" height="224" width="402" On October 24,2006, Taylor came out with her first album titled "Taylor Swift," which also became Swift's first number one on Hot Country Songs. She released her first single, "Tim McGraw," in 2006, and the song became a Top 10 hit on the country charts. It also appeared on her self-titled debut album in October of that same year, selling more than 2.5 million copies. More popular singles soon followed, including "Our Song," a No. 1 country music hit. "Teardrops on My Guitar," "Picture to Burn," and "Should've Said No" were also successful tracks.Two years later, on November 11, 2008, she released her second album, Fearless which consisted of 17 new hit songs! Fearless was an international breakthrough in success for Taylor Swift. Love Story, which was on this album, sold over 5 million copies in the United States alone! 8.6 million copies have been sold worldwide, and won four grammy awards.Fearless also received album of the year, which made Taylor the youngest ever Album of the Year winner. Taylor's third studio album was released on October 25, 2010, which sold more than 1 million copies in the first week of release. Taylor promoted the album with her worldwide tour during the year of 2011. As of 2011, Speak now has sold over 5 million copies throughout the world. On this album, she wrote every song herself. Taylor is one of the best selling music artists of all time. Taylor has a new album coming out, yet to be released in late 2012. In addition to her music career, Taylor also does some acting. In 2009, Taylor performed in the hit television show, CSI. In 2010 Taylor played the character Felicia Miller in the romantic comedy movie, Valentine's Day. Lastly Taylor was the voice of a character in the Dr. Seuss's, The Lorax.

As a songwriter, she composed over 200 songs, either co-written or written. Taylor has a great family who supports her through it all. They also have careers and accomplishments. Her Grandmother, Angela Ann, is a professional opera singer. Her mother, Andrea Swift is a homemaker, who used to work as a mutual fund marking executive. Her father, Scott Swift, is currently a Merrill Lynch financial advisor. Austin Swift, Taylor's younger brother, is currently 20 years old, and attended Notre Dame his first year of college, but transferred to Vanderbilt University his Sophomore year. As a music influence, Taylor looks to Dolly Parton and LeAnn Rimes.

Taylor Swift is a major philanthropist. Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others, by the generous donation of money to good causes. She uses her money to help others. All of the proceeds that she earned from her country music festival in 2008, she donated to the Red Cross's disaster relief fund. $100,00 was donated to the Iowa flood victims. In May 2008, there were floods in Tennessee, so Taylor donated $500,000 during a flood relief telethon. Swift raised $750,000 from ticket sales at a concert to benefit people who were victims in recent tornadoes. A man that was permanently paralyzed from the tornadoes, Taylor donated $1,500 to make is home wheelchair- accessible. With the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police, Taylor helped launch a program to protect kids from online predators. Swift raised $1,200 for charity after donating her prom dress to DonateMyDress.org. To help benefit money forwith cancer, Taylor donated a pair of her shoes to the Wish Upon a Hero Foundation's Hero in Heels fundraiser for auction.In June, 2011, when Taylor won Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year, she donated $25,000 to St. Jude's Research Hospital.

In addition to her huge life as a celebrity song writer, Taylor is just a regular girl who followed her dreams and they came true. Taylor always tries to stay modest and be the best person she can be, as a role model to many young girls. People look up to Taylor and Taylor adores her fans who love and support her every step of the way. She says "It wouldn't be possible without all of the support of my fans."