Taylor Swift, in full Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13th, 1989 West Reading Pennsylvania U.S.) American pop and country music singer and songwriter, whose stories of youthful heartache earned her widespread success in the early 21st century. Swift's passion for music was evident in the early years of her life. From plays for children to singing in front of thousands of people, Swift made rapid progress. In 2011, Swift, aged 11 at the time, performed The Star-Spangled Banner during a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game. Following that, she began to write her own songs. Swift, who took her inspirations from Shania Twain's music and The Dixie Chicks now known as The Chicks within the realm of country music, created the original songs she wrote to express the feeling of being alienated. Swift's family moved to Tennessee from Pennsylvania at the age of thirteen so she would have more time exploring popular country music labels in Nashville.