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)

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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 Arturo

Vote down Vote up Report this

Cal, Rick, Chad, Biilybob, Bubba... Bottom line. You type in CAPS because you probably flunked (or should have) spelling and punctuation. Your defensiveness and negative criticisms indicate that you suffer from issues far beyond what can be dealt with in this media. That is why people who have at least one wit about them are paid to be critical. Not half wits. Besides, this is a great way for you to show everyone where you've got your goat tied.

Taylor Swift made more money before she was 19 than you will make in a lifetime.

Saturday 12 September

By Jim

Taylor is a good girl,I will buy whatever she puts out.She treats her fans like best friends and her web site is free.I hope she wins everything she is up for.Taylor Swift is AMAZING !!!

By brie

jim is right.that's all i have 2 say.

Sunday 13 September

By Sharon

Your name's over-rated, not her.

Monday 14 September

By Bobaroo Bonzai

What a monster. What is your last name? Enstein perhaps?

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