Taylor Swift has said she relied on songwriting to navigate intense public scrutiny, describing music as her guiding principle against the weight of fame and criticism during a Recording Academy Icons Session.
The 14-time Grammy winner, who debuted in 2006 and has released 12 studio albums, discussed the making of her 2017 album Reputation, calling it a period when people had actively tried to misunderstand her. She said releasing music is not a path to universal validation but a way to connect with fans. Swift also addressed her Taylor's Version re-recordings and noted she bought back her master copies from Shamrock Capital in May last year.
Swift, inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, performed a piano medley during the session and married Travis Kelce in July.