About the Book This scholarly analysis of the music of Taylor Swift identifies how and why she is one of the early 21st centurys most recognizable and most popular stars. By the age of 13, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift had already inked a development deal with a major record label. This early milestone was an appropriate predictor of what accomplishments were to come. Now a superstar artist with an international fanbase of millions and several critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums, Swift has established herself as one of the most important musicians of the 21st century. This accessible book serves Taylor Swift fans as well as students of contemporary popular music and popular culture, critically examining all of this young artists work to date. The books organization is primarily chronological, covering Taylor Swifts album and single releases in order of release date while also documenting the elements of her music and personality that have made her popular with fans of country music and pop music across a surprisingly diverse age range of listeners. The chapters address how Swifts songs have been viewed by some fans as anthems of empowerment or messages of encouragement, particularly by members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been bullied or been seen as outsiders, and emerging artists. The final chapter places Swifts work and her public persona in the context of her times with respect to her use of and relationship with technology--for example, her use of social media and songwriting technology--and her expressions of a new type of feminism that is unlike the feminism of the 1970s. Provides the only scholarly critical analysis of the songs and recordings of megastar Taylor Swift Places Swift, her work, and her public stances in the context of her generation and its definition of empowerment and feminism Explores Swifts work as an extension of the early 1970s confessional singer-songwriter movement Book Synopsis This scholarly analysis of the music of Taylor Swift identifies how and why she is one of the early 21st centurys most recognizable and most popular stars. By the age of 13, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift had already inked a development deal with a major record label. This early milestone was an appropriate predictor of what accomplishments were to come. Now a superstar artist with an international fanbase of millions and several critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums, Swift has established herself as one of the most important musicians of the 21st century. This accessible book serves Taylor Swift fans as well as students of contemporary popular music and popular culture, critically examining all of this young artists work to date. The books organization is primarily chronological, covering Taylor Swifts album and single releases in order of release date while also documenting the elements of her music and personality that have made her popular with fans of country music and pop music across a surprisingly diverse age range of listeners. The chapters address how Swifts songs have been viewed by some fans as anthems of empowerment or messages of encouragement, particularly by members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been bullied or been seen as outsiders, and emerging artists. The final chapter places Swifts work and her public persona in the context of her times with respect to her use of and relationship with technology--for example, her use of social media and songwriting technology--and her expressions of a new type of feminism that is unlike the feminism of the 1970s. About the Author James E. Perone , PhD, is associate dean of the faculty and the Margaret Morgan Ramsey professor in music at the University of Mount Union, Alliance, OH.