Q&A: Taylor Swift

Country-music darling Taylor Swift has a problem. "I can't stop writing songs," she says. "I can't stop. I can't turn it off." Almost 19, Swift claims that she's written more than 500 songs, and that a fifth of them were considered for Fearless, the follow-up to her triple-platinum 2006 debut. On her new disc, Swift continues to turn her diary entries into great pop songs: Most of Fearless' tracks, including "Love Story" and "Forever and Always," are about boys, while on "Fifteen" she reminisces about the oh-so-distant past when she was a high school freshman. The precocious Pennsylvania native has had an impressive month: She sang the national anthem at the World Series and jammed with her idols, Def Leppard, for a CMT special. Just finishing a tour with Rascal Flatts, Swift is plotting her own headlining tour for next year, after school finishes. "I've already drawn up the stage plans," she says.

Who are your country-music idols?
I got LeAnn Rimes' first album when I was six, and I just loved how she had a career at such a young age. But my love for country was cemented by three great female acts: Shania Twain brings an independence and a crossover appeal. Faith Hill has this beauty and grace and old-school glamour. And the Dixie Chicks have this "we don't care what you think" quirkiness.

Do you ever write songs that aren't about boys?
I like writing songs about boys and relationships. And when someone breaks up with me, I like to write about it, because I feel like I have the last word. That's the fun part.

When you use names — like on "Hey Stephen" — are those real people?
I have no issue with naming names. My personal goal is for my songs to be so detailed that the guy the song is written about knows it's about him.