Here's a photographic journey through her career, her many eras, and her blockbuster tours.
In the 18 years since Taylor Swift released her first album, she's been a country star, a pop star, and a voice of a generation.
She's a four-time album of the year winner, a billionaire, and the first person with a tour grossing $1 billion. She also rocked the music industry when she decided to re-record her first five albums so she'd own the rights to her own music.
Plus, her 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department," is set for a massive debut on the charts after it was released on Friday.
But she wasn't always this juggernaut. Here's a look at her impressive career, from her 2006 debut to her 2024 superstardom.
Taylor Swift released her self-titled debut album in 2006. At the time, there was no telling that this 16-year-old country singer would become one of the most iconic musicians in history.
Swift sings the National Anthem as the Detroit Lions host the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving.
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But by May 2007, Swift was already playing to large crowds. At the time, her aesthetic consisted of flowy dresses, acoustic guitar, curly hair, and cowboy boots.
Taylor Swift performs in Kansas City.
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Her guitar has been a constant companion from 2007 to 2024.
Swift performs onstage during the first-ever Academy Of Country Music New Artists' Show Party for a Cause in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Swift's debut single was "Tim McGraw," named, of course, after the country star. In May 2007, she performed the song to him and his wife, Faith Hill, at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Faith Hill, Taylor Swift, and Tim McGraw during the 42nd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards.
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An EP, “Beautiful Eyes,” was released in July 2008, just two months after she performed at Stagecoach Music Festival — essentially, country music's Coachella.
Swift performs during day 2 of Stagecoach, California's Country Music Festival held at the Empire Polo Field in Indio, California.
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Even as her star was rising, Swift made time to take selfies with fans — on digital cameras!
Swift greets fans before her performance during the 18th annual Chicago Country Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois.
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By August 2009, her second album "Fearless" had been released and she was headlining Madison Square Garden.
Taylor Swift performs at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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A turning point in her career came during the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2009, when Kanye West interrupted her acceptance speech to declare Beyoncé deserved the award.
Kanye West jumps onstage after Taylor Swift won the best female video award during the MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
In December, she performed with one of her then-musical idols, John Mayer. The two would go on to briefly date, inspiring her song "Dear John."
John Mayer and Taylor Swift perform onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden.
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At the 2010 Grammys, Swift performed with Stevie Nicks — 14 years later, Swift referenced their connection in the song "Clara Bow."
Musicians Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks perform onstage during the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center Los Angeles.
Later that night, the "You Belong With Me" singer was gobsmacked to win album of the year. She'd later write about this night in "Long Live."
John Legend presents Taylor Swift the award for the album of the year during the 52nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
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Her third album, "Speak Now," was released in October 2010. The world tour began in February 2011.
Taylor Swift performs during her "Speak Now" tour at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
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It sold over 1 million copies in its first week, the highest single-week sales for a female country artist. She also became the first female artist to have 11 songs on the Hot 100 simultaneously.
Taylor Swift played to a sold-out crowd of over 51,000 fans when she took her Speak Now World Tour to Lincoln Financial Field in her home state of Pennsylvania.
She continued to collaborate with musical legends. She brought James Taylor out at her Madison Square Garden show in November 2011.
James Taylor and Taylor Swift perform onstage during the Speak Now World Tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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In 2012, she made her first jump away from country music to more straightforward pop. The cowboy boots were nowhere to be found.
Singer Taylor Swift performs during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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The debut single from her fourth album, "Red," called "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," became her first No. 1 on the Hot 100.
Taylor Swift performs during Z100's Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden.
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As her musical style changed, so did her style. She traded flowing dresses and cowboy boots for form-fitting dresses and high heels; gone was the curly hair, traded for sleek straight tresses.
Taylor Swift attends the NRJ Music Awards at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.
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The Red Tour grossed $150.2 million, making it the highest-grossing country tour ever when it ended in 2014.
Taylor Swift wraps the North American portion of her "Red" tour.
She became the first female solo artist in 20 years to perform a stadium tour in Australia. The last female artist to do it was Madonna in 1993.
Taylor Swift kicked off the Australian leg of her "Red" tour at Allianz Stadium, playing to a sold-out crowd of more than 40,000 fans in Sydney, Australia.
In August 2014, she left behind country with the song "Shake It Off," a pure pop song.
Swift performs onstage during the MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
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Later that year, she performed at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show beside then-BFF Karlie Kloss.
Taylor Swift performs as model Karlie Kloss walks the runway during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in London, England.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Victoria's Secret
"1989," Swift's fifth album, remains a high point of her career. It elevated Swift to pop-icon status and spawned three No. 1 hits and two more top-10 singles.
Swift performs onstage during the 1989 World Tour Live at the Staples Center in Los Angeles/
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It was also the era of her "squad." People are still captivated by who is in Swift’s inner circle.
Swift performs onstage with Hailee Steinfeld, Gigi Hadid, Lily Aldridge, and Lena Dunham during The 1989 World Tour Live in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
To top off the "1989" era, she won her second album of the year Grammy in February 2016.
Singer Taylor Swift accepts the award for the album of the year onstage during the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
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Her bleached blonde era — known as "Bleachella," since she debuted it at Coachella in 2016 — showed that people were obsessed with her every move.
Swift attends the "Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology" Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for People.com
But by July 2016, Swift had vanished. Her feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West had resurfaced, with many on social media turning against her.
A mural by Melbourne graffiti artist Lushsux is seen in Melbourne, Australia.
In 2017, she cleared her social media and told us: "There will be no explanation, just reputation." Her sixth album, "Reputation," was released in November.
Swift performs "Ready For It" in Studio 8H.
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"Reputation" brought a new dark and gritty aesthetic. But the old Taylor, who loves interacting with her fans, was still in there.
Swift greets fans during her Reputation Stadium Tour at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland.
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The Reputation Stadium Tour was her first all-stadium tour. Upon its completion in November 2018, it grossed $345.7 million, making it the highest-grossing North American tour ever.
Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour at MetLife Stadium.
In a savvy move, she reclaimed the snake imagery that had been used against her by critics.
Swift performs onstage during the Reputation Stadium Tour at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
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But after her two years of all-black edginess, 2019 brought a complete aesthetic shift.
Taylor Swift and Brendon Urie at the Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Her seventh album, "Lover," which was released in August 2019, is full of love songs, pastel rainbows, and bubblegum pop.
Taylor Swift performs onstage at 2019 iHeartRadio Wango Tango in Carson, California.
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"Lover" was her sixth consecutive No. 1 album and the best-selling album of 2019. Her concerts for the album were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taylor Swift performs during the TIME 100 Gala Dinner at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
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In July 2020, Swift surprised fans with her eighth album, "Folklore." It would go on to win album of the year — she was the first woman ever to win three times.
Swift during the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
After a seven-year hiatus, she returned to her country roots. She performed the song "Betty" at the 2020 Academy of Country Music Awards.
Swift performs onstage during the 55th Academy of Country Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry.
In November 2021, Swift released the 10-minute version of her song "All Too Well" from 2012. She also directed an accompanying short film starring Dylan O'Brien and Sadie Sink.
Taylor Swift attends the "All Too Well" premiere at AMC Lincoln Square.
"Red (Taylor’s Version)," her re-recorded version of the 2012 album "Red" was a huge hit. "All Too Well (10-Minute Version)" became the longest No. 1 song in the chart's history.
Swift accepts the favorite pop album award for "Red (Taylor's Version)" at the American Music Awards.
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But just re-recording wasn't enough for Swift. In August 2022, she announced her 10th album, "Midnights," which became yet another hit.
Swift accepts the video of the year award for "All Too Well" onstage at the MTV VMAs.
The year 2023 was the year of Swift, as she embarked on her globe-spanning Eras Tour. The setlist pays homage to her career. She brought out the gold fringe for the "Fearless" set.
Swift performs onstage at the opening night of The Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona.
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Since "Lover" never got a tour of its own, it kicks off the show. Four years after its release, Swifties got "Cruel Summer" to the top of the Hot 100.
Taylor Swift performs at the Eras Tour held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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During her "Speak Now" set, she brings back her koi-fish guitar and the purple dresses.
Swift performs onstage at night one of The Eras Tour in Kansas City, Missouri.
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During the "Red" set, she interacts with some of her youngest fans.
A young fan exchanges friendship bracelets with Swift during The Eras Tour in São Paulo.
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In the "1989" portion, we get taken back in time to when Swift loved a two-piece set.
Swift performs during night two of The Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
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The "Reputation" era might be long gone, but the snakes are back for this portion of the show.
Taylor Swift performs onstage during The Eras Tour at Allianz Parque.
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She also pays homage to the woodsy, cottage-core vibes of "Folklore" and its sister album, "Evermore."
Swift performs onstage during The Eras Tour in Glendale, Arizona.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Swift ends the night with the "Midnights" set, which spawned two of her two most recent hits, "Karma" and "Anti-Hero."
Swift performs onstage for night one of The Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.
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The Eras Tour has become a global phenomenon. It's the first tour to ever surpass $1 billion in revenue ... and it's not over yet.
Swift performs onstage during The Eras Tour at Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos.
Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
In February 2024, Swift became the first artist to win album of the year four times when she won for "Midnights." That night, she announced her 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department."
Swift accepts the album of the year award for "Midnights" onstage during the 66th Grammys.
Monica Schipper/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
On its release, Swift surprised fans by announcing "TTPD" is a double album, and she dropped 15 more songs. It's set to be, once again, huge.
Swift performs during The Eras Tour at the National Stadium in Singapore.
Ashok Kumar/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
In 18 years, Swift has released 11 albums, four re-records, won 14 Grammys, had 11 No. 1 hits, become a billionaire, and broken countless records. She's showing no sign of slowing down.
Taylor Swift performs during The Eras Tour at the National Stadium in Singapore.
Ashok Kumar/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
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