Taylor Swift, the Teen Anti-'Train Wreck'

By Tricia Romano Posted Sep 11th 2009 07:50AM

These days, we're so used to the young and the famous becoming something resembling a hot mess before they've become adults, that it's a total shock when a teen dream doesn't end up in the tabs. While Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and, to a certain extent Miley Cyrus have demonstrated what not to do as a teen star (and so far, two out of three have easily rebounded), there is one gal who could teach everyone a lesson: Taylor Swift. Experts weigh in on how Taylor's s avoided the pitfalls of teen stardom after the jump!

The 19-year-old country music star arrived on the scene when she was 16, and has gone on to sell ten million albums -- a whopping number for an artist of any age in today's faltering music industry. She crosses genres and is able to play both the MTV Video Music Awards and the Country Music Awards.

She's never really been tabloid fodder -- we don't know who she dates, we've never seen naughty leaked photos and she's never been arrested or photographed passed out drunk in her car. She makes fun of her squeaky clean image in the video with T-Pain, "Thug Story," where she raps and sings, "No I ain't got a gun/No I never really been in a club/Still live with my parents/ but I'm still a thug/I'm so gangsta you can find me baking cookies at night."

So what's the key to Taylor's success? Billboard Editor-in-Chief Bill Werde said of the singer: "I've had the distinct pleasure of following Taylor's career from a very early stage. She stopped by the Billboard offices to play our lunch room in the days before she broke. She was so gracious and appreciative of the opportunity, and I think that's one of the things that really sets her apart."

He adds: "Part of her success is just her work ethic. Somewhat famously now is the story of earlier this year when she went to CMA fest and stood and literally hugged fans for like, ten hours."

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Taylor Swift Snapshots

Singer Taylor Swift poses in front of her newly unveiled star at Mohegan's "Walk of Fame" in Uncasville, Conn., Friday, Aug. 28, 2009. Swift was at Mohegan to accept the "Walk of Fame" honor and perform later that night. (AP Photo/Thomas Cain)

FR170131 AP

Taylor Swift Snapshots

In this CD cover image released by Big Machine Records, Taylor Swift's "Fearless," is shown. (AP Photo/Big Machine)

In this June 16, 2009 photo, Taylor Swift shakes hands with fans during her performance at the CMT Music Awards show in Nashville, Tenn. Swift, 19, is nominated for entertainer of the year in the Country Music Association Awards. She is the first female solo artist to be nominated for the top award since Faith Hill in 2000. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

In this June 16, 2009 photo, Taylor Swift performs at the CMT Music Awards show in Nashville, Tenn. Swift, 19, is nominated for entertainer of the year in the Country Music Association Awards. She is the first female solo artist to be nominated for the top award since Faith Hill in 2000. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

FILE - In a Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 photo, singer Taylor Swift poses in front of her newly unveiled star at Mohegan's "Walk of Fame" in Uncasville, Conn. Taylor Swift has snagged at least two Country Music Award nominations, including one for the show's highest honor: entertainer of the year. (AP Photo/Thomas Cain, File)

Taylor Swift performs at Madison Square Garden on August 27, 2009 in New York City. Taylor Swift "Fearless Tour" At Madison Square Garden - Opening Act Madison Square Garden New York, NY United States August 27, 2009 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (16933093), contact WireImage.com

Theo Wargo/WireImage.com

Singer Taylor Swift signs autographs for fans after accepting "Walk of Fame" honors at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Conn., Friday, August 28, 2009. Swift was at Mohegan to accept the "Walk of Fame" honor and perform later that night. (AP Photo/Thomas Cain)

Taylor Swift performs at Madison Square Garden on August 27, 2009 in New York City. Taylor Swift in Concert Madison Square Garden New York, NY United States August 27, 2009 Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage.com To license this image (16933089), contact WireImage.com

Theo Wargo/WireImage.com

Swift's work ethic is eerily similar to another star, Werde says, saying she "reminds me of the stories I've heard of Madonna when Madonna was young. She's just so laser-focused on her career. I think Taylor is 19 going on 40. She's just preturnaturally mature."

Village Voice gossip columnist extraordinaire Michael Musto proffers another opinion: It's the parenting, stupid. Swift's mom is a homemaker, and her dad is a stock broker. They both are a far cry from stage parents typically seen in showbiz.

"Unlike so many young stars who've turned into walking train wrecks, Taylor didn't suffer the disadvantage of having attention-seeking parents managing her career by force, hereby twisting her values and making her a pawn of their own aspirations," says Musto. "That's why she's avoided the Britney/Lindsay pit. She's simply a talented person who rose to the top without stage parents battling each other for control of her in between pitching their own reality shows. The only down side of this is that while all the messy stars can get tons of tabloid press even when they have no careers, Taylor will actually have to keep doing something."

Taylor's 'West Side Story'-Inspired 'VMA' Promo

<a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/" _fcksavedurl="http://www.mtv.com/news/" target="_blank">Taylor Swift: VMA West Side Story</a>

Taylor Swift: VMA West Side Story

Tags: britney spears, BritneySpears, miley cyrus, MileyCyrus, taylor swift, TaylorSwift

Comments

(45)

Friday 11 September

By Kel

Vote down Vote up Report this

I love Taylor Swift, she's areal talent, but I do get very tired and annoyed with her being nominated for and winning just about everything in country music (between her and Carrie Underwood). But just because her pitfalls haven't been publicized doesn't mean she hasn't had any, or won't have any. It's a part of growing up. I hope that should something happen it stays private though, and doesn't get played out in the press. She a class act nonetheless.

By Lorna

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I sure one of the resons she has been winning so many nominations is that she is so very talented, and at this point in time has very little competition.

Sunday 13 September

By lvb

No body is the anti-train wreck, everyone stumbles and falls sometimes, just because she hasn't yet, doesn't mean she won't. If she's human, and young, she too can fall from grace!

By michael t. lumpkins

she's a bright STAR who deserves thie recognition,as for the rest what father or mother allows their 15-16 year old daughter to go out with a 20 year old MAN,much less live in the same house.

By Debbie

As a mother & grandmother it's easy to see that Taylor's parents raised her well. While some kids just get in trouble no matter how they are raised, the good ones usually are a product of their environment. I think we couldn't have a better role model for our young preteens & teens that Taylor. Her parents should be commended for doing such a fine job!!

Sounds like jealousy to me!!

By Lisa

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

By the songs she writes and sings about___her past love affairs are very disturbing.
Especially at such an very young age.
She is just a puppet for her management and agent.
to profit off this crap of a singer.

By tinamarie76

She's singing about love and breakups not sex. Don't tell me that when you were that age you didn't keep a diary of boys you liked, went out with and broke up with. There is nothing wrong with what she sings or writes about. At least she's not pole dancing on stage for millons to see.

By Tracie

I read somewhere last year, that her mom and dad paid a record company $250,000 for a record contract. IF that is true, it explains A LOT!!! I AGREE WITH GAIL AND FRANK---SHE CAN'T CARRY A TUNE IN A BUCKET WITH THE LID WELDED SHUT!!!!!! I CAN'T STAND TO HEAR HER ON THE RADIO---GREAT TORTURE METHOD FOR TERRORISTS---MAKE THEM LISTEN TO HER OR LADY GAGA!!!!

By GAIL

AMEN TOO THAT___THAT GIRL JUST CANNOT CARRY A TUNE IF THEY GAVE IT TO HER IN A PAPER BAG.

I'VE HEARD HOGS SOUND BETTER IN SWALLOW THAN THAT CRAP THAT COMES OUT OF HER MOUTH.

By Paula Tilley

SHE CANNOT SING!!!! I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE IS DOING SO WELL BUT I PROBABLY KNOW HOW. I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW ANYONE CAN SAY THAT SHE IS A GREAT SINGER & SONG WRITER. I DO NOT LISTEN TO HER AT ALL. SHE MAKES ME FEEL ILL WHEN I EVEN HEAR HER TALK. I LIVED IN NASHVILLE FOR A WHILE & DATED SOMEONE IN THE MUSIC BUSINESS. SOMETIMES FOR SOMEONE TO "MAKE IT" IN NASHVILLE ISN'T BECAUSE OF THEIR TALENT OR IN HER CASE, LACK OF TALENT, YOU JUST HAVE TO KNOW THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

By Kels

I don't know if you guys know this but...caps lock won't make your comments anymore important.

No they don't but you seem to have your own head up yours..

By Maria

Her songs are very anti-boy. Gives me the impresion she is going lesbien.
She must have started he love affairs in elementary school.
I do not like listening to her anymore.

By BOB

WHEN HER SONGS COME ON THE RADIO, I JUST CHANGE THE STATION.

SIMPLE - SHE CANNOT SING.

By Gina

I use to like listening to her, but she does not sing country anymore. And her songs are poorly writen. Too much mumbo jumbo about her personal life that I really do not care about.
She needs to get a life.

By davetbp

Oh no, a singer that writes about something they've actually experienced. What is the world coming to? I'm not this girl's biggest fan, but she does write from the heart and has already written more songs than about 90% of all the rest of the "Nashville Country" artists.

By Rocky

She can not sing period. But to make it in Nashville if you have the money to back you for the big labels, a costs of 250K anybody can be a star. That is the true fact of Nashville and the Music industry there. So she found someone with the money to back her and with no talent she is a star, showing the greed of the big labels such as Capitol, RCA etc. I should know I record there and have ten hits in UK number one in genre of R&B,own my own label and publishing and registered BMI as singer/songwriter but do not have the 250K to back me.

By Arturo

It is simply amazing. Taylor Swift may or may not be a "good singer" or "good role model" - in your opinion. What matters is that she has been successful and is the latest phenom. I, for one, enjoy listening to my granddaughters as they sing along with one of Taylor's songs or pretend that the youngest is "Taylor Swift today, Grandpa!"

If you criticize because someone was critical to you as a child well... grow up. If you criticize to be mean, well... have you read the report about people who text only in CAPS? Apparently both their IQ and self-esteem are low and they would have trouble understanding what I just wrote.

By jerry

I've spoken to several people who have heard her live, not very high ratings, anyone, even me can go into a studio and sound good, it's live where the talent shows, or doesn't.

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