Taylor Swift parents, Scott and Andrea Swift, have always been her biggest supporters. Ever since she was little, they have helped her pursue her dreams of being a musician.
Long before Taylor became a hugely successful pop star, her parents were listening to her sing karaoke and driving her to local performances near their hometown of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. “She was always singing when she was 3, 5, 6, 7 years old,” her dad Scott told a newspaper. “It’s Taylor doing what she likes to do.”
Scott and Andrea have encouraged Taylor swift’s passion for music from a very young age. At the same time, they tried to prevent the pressures of fame from affecting her too much. “There would always be a way out into normal life if she didn’t want to keep pursuing this,” her mom Andrea once said. “But that would be like telling her to stop breathing.”
Andrea used to work in marketing. She married Scott, a former stockbroker, in 1988. On December 13, 1989, they welcomed daughter, Taylor. A little over two years later, her brother Austin was born in 1992.
The family grew up on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania. Eventually, they moved to Nashville when 14-year-old Taylor got her first big record deal. Within a few years, Taylor was performing on the legendary Grand Ole Opry stage as a rising country star. Her mom, Andrea, started touring with her, while her dad, Scott, stayed home with Austin.
By 2010, Taylor’s huge success took her to the Grammy Awards, where she won four awards, including the top prize Album of the Year. In her acceptance speech, she thanked both her parents effusively for their constant support, dedicating the award to her dad. “You always told me I could do anything,” she said.
Taylor Swift Parents Raised Her on a Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Farm
The “Lover” singer has always loved Christmas. This stems from growing up on a Christmas tree farm in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Even after her family moved to Nashville, Taylor has spoken fondly of her memories on the farm. In 2018, she even returned to visit the place.
Taylor later commemorated her childhood home in her 2021 Christmas song “Christmas Tree Farm.” In the song, she sings about all the happy holiday memories from her youth growing up on the farm.
The Swifts Chose Taylor’s Name With Business in Mind
Both of Taylor swift parents have backgrounds in finance. This influenced the name they chose for her.
“My mom thought ‘Taylor’ was a cool name for business,” she explained to Rolling Stone in 2009. “Since it could be for a man or woman, she thought it might help avoid discrimination in the corporate world. She wanted me to succeed in business.”
They chose the gender-neutral name Taylor so she would have an equal chance in the business world.
Andrea Drove Taylor to Nashville to Pursue Her Music Dreams
Taylor was confident in her talent and drive to be a musician from a very young age. Her mom, Andrea, supported her dreams and drove her to Nashville to hand out demo tapes of Taylor singing karaoke.
“My mom waited in the car with my little brother while I knocked on doors up and down Music Row,” Taylor told a magazine. “I would say, ‘Hi, I’m Taylor. I’m 11. I want a record deal – call me.'”
Even though no one called her back from that first Nashville trip, Taylor decided to focus on teaching herself guitar and songwriting to stand out more. At first, when her parents suggested a 12-string guitar would be too hard with her small hands, Taylor set out to prove them wrong.
“Don’t ever say never or can’t do to Taylor,” her mom recalled later. “She started playing guitar four hours a day, six hours on weekends.”
Family Relocated to Nashville Suburbs to Support Taylor’s Budding Career
In 2003, the family moved to Hendersonville, just outside Nashville. This happened after 14-year-old Taylor became the youngest songwriter signed by Sony/ATV Publishing. While the move helped Taylor’s budding career, Taylor swift parents tried to prevent her from feeling too much pressure. They said it was just “a change of scenery.”
“I never wanted that move to be about her ‘making it,'” her mom explained. “Imagine how awful she’d feel if things hadn’t worked out. That’s too much guilt or pressure.” Meanwhile, Scott moved his financial advisory firm, The Swift Group, to their new home.
Partly, they chose not to move directly to Nashville to buffer Taylor against fame’s downsides, her mom revealed. “We moved far enough from Nashville so she wouldn’t be going to school with music execs’ kids,” she said. “We’ve always told her this is not about putting food on our table or making our dreams happen.”
Scott Swift Playfully Embarrasses Daughter Taylor
Like many dads, Scott enjoyed embarrassing his teenage daughter – but Taylor didn’t mind.
“My dad loves being on tour with me,” she wrote online in 2009. “He thinks it’s hilarious to embarrass me as much as possible.”
“For example, I’ll walk quietly into a hotel lobby after dinner. Then a loud voice screams, ‘HEY! THAT’S TAYLOR SWIFT!’ Me: ‘Dad. Please stop,’ “the 19-year-old recalled.
But even with his teasing, she said, “It’s pretty special having my dad out here.”
Andrea Swift Battled Cancer Twice, Inspiring Taylor’s Songwriting
While songwriting is Taylor’s main emotional outlet, she shared a candid post in 2015 about her mom’s health. “I’m writing with an update I wish I weren’t sharing,” she began. “Usually, when things happen, I process them in music later. But this is something my family wants you to know now.”
She explained that during a routine check-up, Taylor urged her to get, doctors discovered Andrea had cancer. “I’d like to keep her treatment details private, but she wanted you to know,” Taylor wrote. “She wanted to explain why she may not make as many shows this tour. She has an important battle ahead.”
In 2019, Taylor revealed in an essay that her mom’s cancer had returned. “It taught me there are real problems and everything else,” she reflected. She said her priorities had shifted, adding, “I now give all my worries and prayers to real problems.”
In the same essay, Taylor shared that her dad, Scott, had also previously battled cancer, though she did not elaborate. “Both my parents have had cancer,” she wrote.
Later, Taylor revealed her mom was also diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2020. “Everyone loves their mom, but for me, she’s really the guiding force,” Taylor told a magazine. She said it was “a really hard time” for her family.
Andrea Proudly Introduced Taylor at the 2015 A.C.M. Awards
Just over a week after revealing her diagnosis, Andrea joined Taylor onstage when she received the Milestone Award at the A.C.M. Awards. As she introduced Taylor, Andrea shared how proud she was of her daughter.
“I’ve watched this milestone artist ever since she was a little girl with tangled hair, full of creativity and imagination…And now, as she prepares for her next world tour, I’m a very proud mom,”
Andrea said emotionally.
Taylor Paid Tribute to Mom in Songs Like “The Best Day”
Taylor first sang about her bond with Andrea in her 2008 song “The Best Day.” It references sweet memories they’ve shared over the years. When Taylor released a 2021 lyric video for the song, she included adorable home videos of them together.
On her album Lover, Taylor opened up about navigating her mom’s cancer diagnosis in the song “Soon You’ll Get Better.” She sings, “And I hate to make this all about me, but who am I supposed to talk to? What am I supposed to do if there’s no you?” Taylor later revealed it was a family decision to include the emotional song.
“It’s something I’m so proud of, but it’s just really hard. I can’t sing it. It’s hard to deal with that song emotionally,”
She explained during a YouTube Live.
Scott Feared for Taylor’s Safety After Her Political Endorsements
After years of criticism for not sharing political views, Taylor endorsed two Democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee in 2018. Her dad was initially concerned about her statement.
In her Netflix documentary, she and her dad discuss the social media post. “I’ve read it all, and I’m terrified right now,” Scott tells Taylor. Speaking to Variety, Taylor explained she understood his safety worries but felt she had to speak out.
“From a humanity perspective, and what my moral compass was telling me, I knew this was right despite potential repercussions,” she said. “My dad has to see the stalker threats against my safety we deal with daily. And I’m his kid. That’s where he’s coming from.”
Scott Is A Hands-On Dad.
When fans camped overnight in 2019 for Taylor’s Good Morning America concert, she made sure they were fed. Taylor ordered 30 pizzas for the fans waiting outside Central Park. Her team handed them out, including her dad, Scott!
“For my parents, it’s like: That’s my kid! People wait on the sidewalk to see her perform!”
Taylor told G.M.A.
Most recently, Scott joined Taylor, kicking off her 2023 Eras Tour. Ahead of opening night, Taylor shared a photo of the custom backstage pass she made her dad. The handmade credential read “D.O.H. Pass” for “Dad of Headliner” in Taylor’s handwriting.
“Made my Dad’s tour pass. We are a small family business,”
Taylor captioned it.
Scott and Andrea Attend Multiple Dates on Taylor’s Eras Tour
In April 2023, Taylor gave a sweet shout-out to her parents during a show in Houston.
“I love you, Houston. You treat us like this is my mom’s hometown, which it is. You treat it like where my parents got married, which it is,” she told the crowd.
Later in Philadelphia, Scott was spotted with Taylor’s rumored love interest Matty Healy.
On Mother’s Day, Taylor performed “The Best Day” for her mom. She explained she surprised Andrea with the song in 2008.
“I wrote it compiling childhood memories of her as my friend,” Taylor said. She then recalled finally playing Andrea the song.
“It’s so beautiful. Where did you find it? It’s exactly our memories,” her mom reacted. Taylor replied, “Mom, I wrote and recorded it secretly. It is our memories.”
In July, Taylor posted a TikTok of her dad riding his Segway backstage after a show, joking, “My dads on his Segway s*** again.”
Both Scott and Andrea attended the October premiere of Taylor’s tour film in Los Angeles.
Travis Kelce Convinced Scott Swift to Become a Chiefs Fan
Travis Kelce and Scott Swift met for the first time while supporting Taylor at her Buenos Aires concerts.
On the trip, the N.F.L. star successfully converted longtime football fan Scott into a Chiefs supporter.
“Just one by one, getting all the good ones to come on over,” Kelce said on his podcast. His brother Jason joked, “You’re gonna let this man’s looks and his relationship with your daughter sway your fandom, Scott?”
Scott proved his new Chiefs’ loyalty in December 2023. Wearing Chiefs gear, he cheered them on in a suite at a Patriots game. Taylor’s friends, including Alana Haim, also attended.
