Before Taylor Swift was an international superstar whose 2023 “Eras Tour” caused Ticket Master’s website to shut down with high ticket demand selling out multiple nights at stadiums all over the country, she was a country star. She came to Nashville as a teenager and attended Hendersonville High School North of Nashville, writing songs about young love and loss. She won the CMA’s Top honor of Entertainer of the Year in 2009 and again in 2011, the same year she won the ACM’s Entertainer of the Year. Plainly put, she was country before she was a pop star.

Her early country songs started her road to history-making fame and fortune, and as she celebrates her 33rd birthday today (12/13), we celebrate the country songs that put her on the map in music.

• 13. “Fearless” (2010)

  Share

  Taylor wrote "Fearless" while traveling on tour to promote her self-titled debut studio album (2006) in regard to the fearlessness of falling in love and eventually titled her second studio album after the song. The song narrates a perfect first date.

• 12. “Picture to Burn” (2008)

  Share

  Classic Swift. The first album's single was chosen as a single based on the audience's reaction to it in concert. The lyrics concern setting fire to photographs of a former boyfriend.

• 11. “Back to December” (2011)

  Share

  Taylor said that "Back to December" is an apology to a past lover in the form of a song. She said, "I've never felt the need to apologize in a song before. But in the last two years, I've experienced a lot, including a lot of different kinds of learning lessons. And sometimes you learn a lesson too late, and at that point, you need to apologize because you were careless."
• 10. “Love Story” (2008)

  Share

  Another early career single. This song was huge for Swift receiving widespread critical praise, with many complimenting her writing style and the song's catchiness. The single peaked atop the chart in Australia, where it was certified ten times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). It reached the top five on charts in Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, and the U.K., and was one of the best-selling singles of 2009 worldwide.

• 9. “Mean” (2011)

  Share

  The banjo in this song is infectious. A song Taylor wrote in response to people who criticize whatever she does. She said, "there's constructive criticism, there's professional criticism, and then there's just being mean. And there's a line that you cross when you just start to attack everything about a person."

• 8. “Highway Don’t Care” (with Tim McGraw featuring Keith Urban) (2013)

  Share

  A great collaboration with the man who she wrote her very first single, "Tim McGraw," about. Adding Keith Urban's guitar to this makes it close to a masterpiece.
• 7. “That’s When” (with Keith Urban) (2021)

  Share

  A song from Taylor that, with the addition of Keith Urban, makes it country in my book. From Taylor's "Vault." Keith said he listened to the song while sitting in a mall food court and "loved it."

• 6. “You Belong with Me” (2009)

  Share

  Another classic. "You Belong with Me" was ranked among the greatest songs of the 2000s decade by both CMT and VH1. The song's music video features Swift portraying two characters: an ordinary girl (the protagonist and narrator) and a popular girl (the antagonist and girlfriend).

• 5. “I Bet You Think About Me” (featuring Chris Stapleton) (2021)

  Share

  As usual, Stapleton's voice adds so much to this song. From Taylor's Red (Taylor's Version) album.
• 4. “Tim McGraw” (2006)

  Share

  The song that started it all. The moment a young teenage Taylor singing the song on the ACM Awards show and went into the audience to sing it directly to McGraw himself is legendary. She wrote "Tim McGraw" during her freshman year of high school, knowing that she and her senior boyfriend would break up at the end of the year when he left for college.

• 3. “Our Song” (2007)

  Share

  One of Taylor's finest songs, and is on her debut album. Swift wrote "Our Song" for a high school talent show during her freshman year; the lyrics are about a young couple using the regular events in their lives to create their own song. She persuaded Big Machine Records to include the song on her debut album because it was popular among her classmates.

• 2. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (2012)

  Share

  This is scarily catchy, and so good. Music critics praised the track for its catchy melody and radio-friendly sound. The song appeared in year-end lists by Rolling Stone, Time, and The Village Voice.
• 1. “Better Man” (2021)

  Share

  A huge hit and Grammy-winning song for Little Big Town. The song also won Song of the Year and was nominated for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards for Little Big Town. The lyrics are powerful. Taylor's version is just, well, the best, and that's why it tops the list.

Get The QYK Country Connections Newsletter

Enjoy the latest Country music & entertainment news, Tampa/St. Pete happenings, plus exclusive contests, games, and more.

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.