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[taylorinterviews]

CATCHING UP WITH TAYLOR SWIFT

By Lauren Tingle

July 24, 2007 at 6:07 PM

Teenagers may be notoriously concerned about popularity, but Taylor Swift has nothing to worry about. Already, she has toured with Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Brad Paisley. Her debut album has sold more than 1 million copies, and she nabbed a CMT Music Award as favorite new artist. (She takes the trophy with her on tour so her fans can hold it, too.) During a recent visit to the CMT Radio studio, the upbeat singer-songwriter talked about her fondness for dresses, her new computer and why she's OK with being single.

CMT: What's it like touring with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill?

Taylor Swift: They're so nice. I seriously love them. They're so approachable. It's unbelievable because they're so down-to-earth about everything. I mean, headliners are usually really, really nice to the opening acts. I've been lucky to be on such amazing tours and to tour with George Strait and Rascal Flatts. They've all been so sweet, but Tim and Faith are so great because they make sure that every single person on the tour has met them. They make sure that everybody feels comfortable, and I love them. It's one huge, happy awesome family.

After my first show, when I came back to my dressing room, there was this box and it was wrapped up, and there was a note. It was two boxes, actually. One has a candle in it and it smells awesome, but that's on my bus. I can't wear that around. (laughs) And in the other box was this charm bracelet, and the front of the note said, "Be Remarkable," and in the inside it said, "Taylor you've already accomplished this. Love, Tim and Faith." I'm like, "Oh, my gosh!" I love them. I seriously love them. I'm such a super fan.

They loved your song, "Tim McGraw," of course.

I think that's part of the reason why I'm out there -- because of the song. (laughs) But don't tell anybody. Keep that on the down low.

What kind of advice did they give you?

Faith has told me that she really likes the way that I dress. She's like, "You never expose too much." I think that's one of the coolest things someone can say -- that they like the way you dress -- because that says so much. I've never had a stylist do things for me and pick out what I was gonna wear and what my look was gonna be. It was really nice of her to say that. That's one of the coolest things I think she's said to me.

Do you get a lot of time to shop?

Actually, I don't get a lot of time to shop, but when I do come back to Nashville, I consider those bona fide shopping days. ... Dresses are my weakness, seriously. Lately, I'll get jeans or skinny jeans or whatever if I'm just hanging out, but most of the time I'm really comfortable in dresses. If I see a really cute dress, I have to buy it.

You've got a new toy, right?

I did! Yeah, I'm having a blast. I got this new laptop. It's the only [big] thing that I bought. I was talking to my mom and I was like, "I really want a new computer." The computer I have is five years old and weighs 50 pounds. I thought maybe I should get a new computer, and she was like, "Taylor, you can get a new computer." I was so excited. I've been obsessed with it for the past two weeks, and I've been taking pictures and putting them up on MySpace and doing all kinds of stuff like video editing.

You wrote "Teardrops on My Guitar" about a guy named Drew. Has he actually called you?

Yes, and he's left me five different voicemails. Like, "Hey, it's Drew. How are you Taylor? I haven't talked to you in like a year and a-half. How are you?" I think he knows exactly how I am because I think he's heard my song on the radio. I don't want to call him back and be like, "Hey it's Taylor, that girl who wrote the song about how I'm in love with you and how I wanted you to break up with your girlfriend." That would be the most awkward conversation ever! I've been too pathetic to call him back. ... I figure I'm saving guys the trouble of dating me because I would be the most inconvenient girlfriend ever. I figured me being single right now is not only good for me, but it's good for the guys. I'm saving them the trouble of dating a girl who would never be able to see them.

You've been dreaming about this life. Is it everything you thought it would be?

It is so much better. I never really thought it was gonna happen. I am one of those people who wants to do the work for something and want it so bad and work for it, but not expect anything. I was never that little kid who was walking around saying, "Hey, you guys, I'm going to be famous some day. Just wait." Because I didn't know that, and I've always tried to be very practical and very logical about things like that. Never once did I say, "I'm gonna make it, I'm gonna be famous, I'm gonna be a country singer."

Instead, I did the work and tried to make it happen myself without promising anybody anything that I didn't know was gonna happen. When I go out in public now and a trip to Wal-Mart turns into an autograph signing, it's more than I ever could have asked for. People come up and say they like my music. That's all I ever wanted. I don't see how that could ever get old. I seriously love it so much, and these people are the reason why I'm here, so I ought to say hi to them and sign their piece of paper in Wal-Mart.