SWIFTIES have the late country music star Toby Kieth to thank for helping open a door for now global superstar and multi-Grammy award winning artist, Taylor Swift.
During the start of her career, Swift reflected on what it meant to work with the legendary country singer, newly resurfaced video shows.
At just 15-years-old, Swift is seen belting out the lyrics to Teardrops on My Guitar in one of her first television interviews with NBC affiliate WSMV4.
Sitting in the music room of her high school in Henderson, Tennessee, in 2005, the singer appeared to be awestruck over Keith.
“You’re in the room with him and you can feel it. There’s a power there and you’re just like, ‘oh my God,” Swift told the outlet.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get to a point where I won’t see him and be like, “oh my God, that’s Toby Keith.”
At the time, Keith had recently signed Swift to his record label Show Dog-Universal Music in partnership with music executive Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Records, according to Rolling Stone.
In 2004, the country singer reportedly saw Swift perform at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and had to bring the future global popstar on board.
Swift remained with the label until 2018, when the two labels split.
Keith, 62, died on February 5 after battling stomach cancer.
The country star, known for his hit track Should’ve Been a Cowboy, revealed he had been diagnosed with the disease in June 2022.
At the time, he said he was receiving chemotherapy and other treatments.
Toby Keith dead at 62 – Beloved country singer dies ‘surrounded by his family’ after stomach cancer battle
A statement announcing his death on social media said Keith “fought his fight with grace and courage.”
“Please respect the privacy of his family at the time.”
Keith is survived by his wife Tricia Lucus, whom he married in 1984.
The legendary singer is also survived by his many hit tracks including Red Solo Cup, Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This, Beer for My Horses, and I Love This Bar.
In the weeks before his death, Keith described his battle with cancer as a “rollercoaster.”
In January he told NBC affiliate KUSA that he was comfortable with any outcome.
“I had my brain wrapped around it, and I was in a good spot either way,” he said.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Swift had not publicly commented on Keith’s death.
A representative for the singer did not immediately respond to The U.S. Sun’s request for comment.
