Q&A: Taylor Swift

How many times have you sung the national anthem?
Hundreds. When I was 11, it occurred to me that this was the best way to get in front of a large group of people. I'd sing it wherever I could — 76ers games, the U.S. Open, garden-club meetings, I didn't care. I actually used to sing it for the Reading Phillies, and a few of the members of the Phillies now, like Pat Burrell, were on that minor-league team.

What's the hardest bit to sing?
The beginning. It's a really surreal moment when 40,000 people in a baseball stadium are utterly silent. By the time I get to "and the rockets' red glare," it's smooth sailing.

Your fans call themselves the "Taylor Nation" — what are the really hardcore fans like?
I get a lot of criers, but I love criers because I like emotional people. Sometimes people show me tattooed arms or midriffs with my signature, which is interesting. And, I love huggers, but sometimes I get gropers. When it goes beyond 10 seconds — that's excessive.

What's the craziest thing you've seen in a crowd?
There's always the frat boy who has my name painted on his chest, which is awesome. One of my favorite moments of the night is when I'm in the middle of my acoustic set and I'm in a really poignant moment and I hear a group of guys with Southern accents going, "Marry me!"

How do you respond?
Dolly Parton had the best response to that, and I'm going to start using it. Some guy screamed from the crowd, "I love you, Dolly!" and she goes, "I thought I told you to stay in the truck!"

[From Issue 1066 — November 27, 2008]

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