Taylor Swift has built a career on having a way with words.
But even by her standards, her speech as she became the youngest woman ever to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York was a whopper.
Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter
Thank you!
Taylor Swift has opened up about overcoming a lifetime of ‘chaos and calamity’ and ‘trial and error’ in a moving 21-minute speech Credit: Getty
Taylor also appeared to drop a hint about her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce Credit: Reuters
In a moving, 21-minute outpouring, Taylor opened up about how she has overcome a lifetime of “chaos and calamity”, as well as a “massive amount of trial and error”, to become the superstar she is today.
She said: “If I look back at my entire 23 years in music, the ups, the downs, the industry battles and the trials and tribulations.
“The tears and the cheers and the dogpiling of doubt, the criticisms, both fair and unfair, the complete loss of privacy.
“The world tours, the ego wars and the twists of fate and the magical chaos of this path that I chose when I was too young to remember it ever being a choice at all . . . songwriting was the easiest thing I ever did.”
HURRAZORLIGHT!
Razorlight frontman spills on wild night with Emma Watson ahead of huge tour
MR & MIXES
Perrie Edwards & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain secretly getting married this weekend
But she added: “Not because it didn’t take effort — it definitely did. When I say that songwriting is the easiest part for me, I think what I mean is it was instinctual. No one taught me how to do it. I had to be taught how to entertain a crowd and learn choreography and be less annoying and fiercely protect my own sanity.
“But writing for me is pretty much the only thing I ever naturally did.”
As she took to the stage at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in the Big Apple, Taylor also appeared to drop a hint about her upcoming wedding to Travis Kelce.
She wore a dress from Givenchy by Sarah Burton, who is rumoured to be designing the gown for her big day next month.
And given much of Tay’s enormous back catalogue was inspired by her relationships — including 14 UK chart-topping albums and 33 top ten singles, including seven No1s — the star naturally gave a nod to her love life.
She joked: “When I was inspired by my own life, my curiosities about the world, my very dramatic but extremely dire crushes on boys at school who had never even once talked to me, I wrote about that.
“Nothing delights and surprises me more than 20 years after my first song came out, they still want to read the next chapter.”
Given the ferocious thirst of Swifties, I think Taylor’s story will run and run . . .
Swede memories, Zara
Zara Larsson has signed up to fashion brand True Religion to be the face of its Y2K revival campaign. Credit: True Religion/CMG
Zara Larsson reckons fashion brand True Religion is the cat’s whiskers after signing up to the face of its Y2K revival campaign.
The Swedish superstar took us all back to our childhoods, wearing crystal-embellished low-rise jeans – which I’d have loved back in my schooldays.
Zara, who was born just as the Y2K movement took off, said she loved embracing the era.
She said of working with True Religion: “This campaign felt very real because it reflects so much of my life on tour, from getting ready with my team to celebrating after a great show.”
Zara added: “It feels effortless, fun and super glamorous at the same time.”
Latte going on, Duffy?
Singer Duffy has been pictured for the first time in public in over 15 years, above Credit: Facebook
The Mercy singer was at Caffi Largo in Pwllheli, a few miles from her hometown of Nefyn, near Bangor Credit: Getty
Duffy has been pictured for the first time in public in over 15 years after popping to a local cafe in North Wales.
The Mercy singer was at Caffi Largo in Pwllheli, a few miles from her hometown of Nefyn, near Bangor. Sharing a snap on Facebook, staff wrote: “Always lovely to see local talent supporting local spots.”
It comes as Duffy prepares to relaunch her music career after a kidnap and rape ordeal. She’s been back in the studio working on new music and will play an intimate London gig next month.
Shania’s sole aim
Shania Twain has challenged Harry Styles to wear her sky-high stilettos on stage at Wembley Stadium as she opens her 12-date support run Credit: Getty
Shania Twain has thrown down the gauntlet to Harry Styles and asked him to wear a pair of her sky-high stilettos on stage at Wembley Stadium.
The top-selling country music star, who has sold more than 100 million records, opened the first of her 12 dates supporting Harry last night.
Before the concert, Shania told BBC Radio 2: “I should find out what his shoe size is because it would be fun to say, ‘OK Harry, here’s a pair of my shoes in your size, for one show out of the 12, do it in these shoes.’
“I think he would look really hot in them too. It’s not easy to wear stilettos. I don’t know how I am going to get around that stage, it’s got to be half a mile. I am just going to strut the whole time.”
Despite sharing the stage this summer, Harry and Shania, inset, hadn’t actually seen each other for four years.
But Shania said their friendship was still strong, adding: “We text, we check on each other, we randomly text, like congrats when there is something cool happening.”
Could that be his wedding to Zoe Kravitz, Shania?
Jesy: Pressure took its toll
Jesy Nelson has revealed it was her decision to split from her boyfriend Zion Foster.
The pressure of supporting their twin daughters, Ocean and Story, who were born with muscle-wasting condition SMA, took its toll.
Jesy said: “It is a very traumatic thing we have both been through. I think it’s quite inevitable for things like this to happen as a couple.
“I feel like that’s what it’s done to Zi and I. But there’s no bad feeling.”
At the first screening of her new documentary Jesy Nelson: Life Changing at Sheffield Doc Fest, she added: “My main priority is them, so I just want to be the best mum for them.”
Jen vow depends on Reese
Jennifer Aniston says she plans to keep working for at least another three decades – but only with Reese Witherspoon Credit: Getty
Jennifer Aniston has vowed to keep working for at least another three decades – as long as it’s alongside Reese Witherspoon.
The pals work together on Apple TV’s The Morning Show and the former Friends star, inset, said: “I love Reese more than life and I hope we get to do it until we’re way into our nineties doing different things.
“She’s 100 per cent a dream producing partner because she’s one of the smartest women I’ve ever met in this industry.
“And how she’s conducted herself throughout her career is truly admirable.
“We have shared values and ideas of what kind of television we want to be a part of, and we poured all of that love into The Morning Show.”
Robbie looks Valey happy
Robbie Williams in his new Port Vale shirt Credit: supplied
Life-long Port Vale fan Robbie Williams has been named the new shirt partner for his beloved footie team, in a two-year deal.
And last night the club unveiled his name on their new kit for next season, which goes on sale today.
The Angels singer told me: “Robbie Williams, on the front of a Port Vale shirt. It’s a match made in heaven, for me.”
Even as a Spurs fan I have to admit that is a pretty snazzy shirt.
Millie Bobby Brown has opened up about adopting her daughter with her husband Jake Bongiovi.
“It was always part of my childhood dreams,” she said. “For me, adoption was always a part of my future. Adoption is forever.”
Last summer, Millie announced she had become a mum at 21 soon after marrying Jake, son of rocker Jon Bon Jovi.
THE CHARTS
Taylor Swift lands her seventh UK No1 single with her Toy Story 5 track I Knew It, I Knew You, while Ariana Grande slips to No3. Niall Horan scores his third chart-topping album with Dinner Party ahead of other new entries from Overpass, Jeff Goldblum and Evanescence.
Singles
I Knew It, I Knew You – Taylor Swift
Rein Me In – Sam Fender & Olivia Dean
Hate That I Made You Love Me – Ariana Grande
The Cure – Olivia Rodrigo
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Janice STFU – Drake
Dracula – Tame Impala
Beat It – Michael Jackson
Midnight Jattvibe – Zara Larsson
Go – The Chemical Brothers
Albums
Dinner Party – Niall Horan
The Essential Michael Jackson – Michael Jackson
Iceman – Drake
The Art Of Loving – Olivia Dean
Elsewhere, Always – Overpass
Thriller – Michael Jackson
The Great Divide – Noah Kahan
50 Years: Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac
Night Blooms – Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Sanctuary– Evanescence
Denise Welch has shared her excitement over her son Matty Healy’s upcoming wedding to US model and musician Gabbriette Bechtel Credit: Splash
Denise Welch couldn’t contain her excitement over her son Matty Healy’s upcoming wedding to US model and musician Gabbriette Bechtel.
At London’s Rainbow Honours Awards, Den told us: “I love her, I’m very proud of them both. We’re all very excited.”
The bride’s family may need to watch out if Denise gives a speech, after she gave a riotous one at Michael Caine’s 90th three years ago.
Denise said: “I’ve done my jokes in front of Americans and if they don’t get it, they’re very good actors, because they all laugh.”
