Taylor Swift is a unique phenomenon on the American pop scene. She recently announced her engagement to football player Travis Kelce.
Taylor Swift grew up in a typical American family in Pennsylvania. As a child, Swift wasn’t exactly the life of the party and didn’t socialize much with her peers, preferring the company of her beloved grandmother, who introduced Taylor to music.
At the time, Swift couldn’t think of anything better to do than start singing on the streets. Her career eventually took off—she began getting invited to perform not just anywhere, but in shopping malls. Later, she began touring country festivals and, at just 15, signed a contract with an independent music label, which helped her release her first album.
In 2008, Taylor Swift won Grammys in several categories: Best Country Female Artist, Best Country Album, and Best Country Song. That same year, her album Fearless became a true sales record-breaker. Taylor’s fame was so meteoric that the young star was booked up for the year ahead—she began starring in the series Hannah Montana alongside Miley Cyrus, released several albums, created a sneaker collection, and in 2013, headlined the Victoria’s Secret fashion show.
Surprisingly, despite her busy schedule, Taylor Swift has a very turbulent personal life. She’s dedicated a song to almost every boyfriend, naturally casting them in a less-than-favorable light. Early in her career, she dated Joe Jonas, who, like Taylor herself, was a Disney Channel protégé. It’s possible this romance was merely a publicity stunt—the relationship lasted only a few months.
Taylor’s attention then shifted to her namesake, Twilight star Taylor Lautner, who was at the height of his popularity at the time. The two were together for a year before splitting without explanation.
Next in line was actor Jake Gyllenhaal, a romance with whom Swift initially tried to hide due to the large age difference. But, as the saying goes, you can’t hide from the paparazzi, so this affair, too, became public knowledge. The lovers didn’t last long—just three months. Soon, the singer found another suitor, this time younger—Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Patrick.
Taylor’s boyfriend also included a member of the famous Kennedy clan: Conor, Robert Kennedy’s 18-year-old grandson. The couple dated in 2012, but Swift again only lasted four months. In short, Swift’s relationships are too numerous to count. She’s probably lost count herself.
The star is currently engaged to football player Travis Kelce. The media has repeatedly reported that this is a PR affair, intended to bring some order to Taylor’s personal life and boost Travis’s popularity (a copy of the agreement between the two parties on how they should “play at the relationship” was even leaked online).
At the same time, Swift says she worries that a happy family life will hinder her songwriting. “Happiness brings satisfaction, and satisfaction distracts you from searching for something new, and so life becomes less and less magical,” Taylor says. “I’ve been thinking about this for a long time, and it’s a terrifying prospect. Well, we’ll see!”
