Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine’s coveted Person of the Year for 2023. The pop music phenom and burgeoning activist was revealed as this year’s honoree on the cover of Time’s newest issue.
The announcement comes after a record-breaking year for Swift that saw her release her 10th studio album, ‘Midnights’, inspire an uptick in voter registration, and speak out more forcefully than ever on political and social issues.
Swift’s Monumental Year Solidified Her Selection
Swift’s selection as 2023’s Person of the Year appears to have been cemented by several key achievements across music and activism over the past 12 months.
She began 2022 with a graduation speech at NYU focused on creative freedom and perseverance. She soon announced her rerecorded ‘Red’ album had earned Swift a milestone slot as the first woman to win Album of the Year at the Grammys three times.
The pop icon spent her summer advocating for fair pay and worker rights, then made Billboard Hot 100 chart history again with her ’90s house-pop mashup ‘Anti-Hero’ becoming the only lead artist to debut at #1 six times.
Swift soon earned critical acclaim and commercial success for surprise record ‘Midnights’ – her “most cohesive album” – as she broke the Spotify record for most-streamed album in a day.
In October, Swift’s political endorsement of two Democratic congressmen was linked to a spike in voter registrations among younger Americans.
As 2022 drew to a close, Swift made history as the first artist to claim all top 10 spots on the Hot 100 with various ‘Midnights’ tracks.
| Month | Taylor Swift Achievement |
|---|---|
| May 2022 | NYU commencement speech focused on creative freedom, perseverance |
| April 2022 | First woman to win Album of Year at Grammys 3 times for rereleased ‘Red’ |
| Summer 2022 | Advocated for fair pay, worker rights |
| October 2022 | ‘Anti-Hero’ lead single makes Billboard history as Swift’s 6th #1 debut |
| October 2022 | Surprise album ‘Midnights’ breaks Spotify streaming record |
| October 2022 | Political endorsement linked to spike in youth voter registrations |
| November 2022 | First artist to claim all Top 10 spots on Hot 100 chart |
Her music industry accolades, vocal support of various social causes, and willingness “to take a stand, even when it could hurt her career” seemingly impressed Time enough to crown Swift as 2023’s most influential figure.
Swift Looks Ahead After Groundbreaking Year
In her first major interview in several years, Swift shared her thoughts on being named Time’s Person of the Year with the outlet.
Despite all her 2022 achievements, Swift said, “I have no idea what’s next” career-wise. However, she does aim “to keep growing” and refuses to take a break just because she’s accomplished so much already.
“I don’t feel comfortable resting on my laurels and I don’t think that’s ever going to change about me,” confessed Swift.
Though unsure what her next era or album might entail, Swift did note she’d “love to collaborate” with fellow music titans Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney someday. She even accepted some mock advice from Tesla CEO Elon Musk: “to keep innovating and putting out compelling art.”
Swift is also looking ahead by offering guidance to aspiring creatives. She urged young artists not to allow critical feedback to “dull your shine.”
“If you love making art, just make it,” she added. Building off her NYU speech, Swift again highlighted the need for protecting creative freedom and diverse viewpoints within the arts.
Though Swift is unsure exactly what her next moves as an artist might be, she seems determined to continue evolving personally and professionally. Remaining an active political and cultural voice also appears to be a priority for Swift after her groundbreaking 2022 achievements.
Selection Sparks Some Controversy
Swift being singled out as 2023’s Person of the Year has sparked some debate. While many fans, music critics and news outlets have applauded Time’s decision, others argue different figures were more deserving of the designation.
Some online commentators have questioned whether Swift’s entertainment career warrants such an influential societal title over activists battling for political freedom or civil rights.
“Is a celebrity more deserving than the women in Iran fighting – at risk of death – to not wear hijabs? How very American,” tweeted Hollywood-based NGO SAG-AFRA India.
Others note that – though Swift found major success across streaming charts and platforms – her lack of a Hot 100 #1 single in 2022 seems odd for a so-called pop “Artist of the Year.”
However, Time’s editor-in-chief argued Swift’s determined “quest for progress” across music and politics sealed her selection. Her willingness to leverage superstardom to “amplify others’ voices” and promote systemic change proved decisive as well.
What This Honor Means for Swift
Being dubbed 2023’s Person of the Year caps off Swift’s monumental year on a high. It also further cements her status as not only a generational pop icon but an impactful cultural figure beyond just record sales.
At just 33 years old, Swift is the youngest individual solo Person of the Year since Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg received the title at age 23 back in 2010. She is only the sixth solo female musician bestowed with the designation in its near-century run.
The recognition surely resonates on a personal level for Swift as well. In a full-circle moment, she confided to Time about having her poster of past Person of the Year honorees, including Obama, Clinton and Gates, torn down by bullies as a kid.
Decades later, Swift now forever stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill, and Martin Luther King Jr. as an esteemed Person of the Year.
For Swift, this latest honor cements 2022 as a “Year of the Swift” – one where she redefined her career, repeatedly made history, leveraged fame into activism, and now adds Person of the Year to her pile of 2022 accolades.
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