Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

A Look Back at Taylor Swift’s First Grand Ole Opry Performance

A Look Back at Taylor Swift’s First Performance at the Grand Ole Opry
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Can you believe it’s been fifteen years since Taylor Swift made her debut at the prestigious stage of the Grand Ole Opry? Dressed in a simple white sundress and sporting her famous natural curls, Swift sang her debut single “Tim McGraw” for an unforgettable performance that stole countless of country fans’ hearts.

Taylor Swift was just sixteen then, signed with a new independent label called Big Machine Records as one of its first artists. Her self-titled debut album wouldn’t hit the shelves until a little more than one month, and the thought of a teenage girl becoming a country star still seemed pretty far-fetched.

But shooting to stardom happened fast for Swift! Her album, jam-packed with catchy songs about teenage love and heartbreak, became such a big hit that it yielded three country hits – with “Our Song,” giving Swift her first taste of No. 1 hit. Swift went on selling over five million copies in the United States alone, putting her on the map of best-selling female artists in the history of country music.

As her star rose to be one of the genre’s sensations and with such undeniable talent, Swift became one of Opry’s frequent guests over the course of her next few albums.

However, Swift did not stay in the country for long. A couple of her hits were also often played on mainstream pop radio.

When the singer-songwriter released her second album two years later, she went on seeing success in the public eye, including those who didn’t usually listen to country music. She achieved hits over hits and definitely made herself a household name. This trend continued in the following years until Swift fully transitioned from an artist with country influence to a full-fledged pop singer.

She entirely left country music in 2014 with the release of her first pop album, 1989.

Let’s take a look at her Grand Ole Opry Debut in the video below.

Latest Stories

John Foster smiles while holding a guitar in a promotional image announcing his Grand Ole Opry debut on June 7, celebrating the Opry’s 100th anniversary.

John Foster Just Announced His Grand Ole Opry Debut for Saturday, June 7

Well, that didn’t take long. Less than a week after finishing runner-up on American Idol, 18-year-old John Foster is already making one of the biggest moves a country newcomer can ...

American flags and flowers placed by headstones in a military cemetery, symbolizing the true purpose of Memorial Day—honoring the fallen, not to be confused with Veterans Day.

The Difference Between Memorial Day and Veterans Day and Why It Matters

Every year, Americans break out the stars and stripes, fire up the grill, and post patriotic Instagram stories as we roll into Memorial Day and Veterans Day. But if your ...

Kenny Chesney performs inside the Las Vegas Sphere surrounded by neon lights, tropical visuals, and underwater beach bar-themed projections celebrating his historic country concert.

Kenny Chesney Turned the Vegas Sphere Into a Beach Bar and Made Country History

Las Vegas has seen its share of wild nights, but it’s never seen anything quite like what went down when Kenny Chesney brought his barefoot hurricane to the Sphere. May ...

Priscilla Presley poses in a black ruffled blouse with dark red lipstick and auburn hair, attending a formal event years after her life with Elvis Presley, still carrying the legacy of their enduring love story.

Where Is Priscilla Presley Now and Why She Never Remarried After Elvis Presley

There are love stories, and then there’s Elvis and Priscilla. A whirlwind of fame, obsession, heartbreak, and a connection so deep it’s still pulsing five decades after it blew apart. ...

Jamey Johnson and his wife Brittney Eakins smile at each other in wedding attire by a scenic river, celebrating their unique love story that began with a proposal the day after they met.

Jamey Johnson Proposed to His Wife Brittney the Day After They Met and She Said Yes

Jamey Johnson doesn’t date. He decides. And apparently, he decided the moment he met Brittney Eakins because this outlaw son of Alabama met a woman, looked her dead in the ...

Beyoncé performs in a white rhinestone western outfit and cowboy hat during her Cowboy Carter era, drawing controversy after receiving country award nominations at the 2025 AMAs.

Beyoncé Got Two Country Nods at the 2025 AMAs While Real Country Artists Got Nothing

Let’s not sugarcoat this. Beyoncé just scored two country nominations at the 2025 American Music Awards, and half the artists actually living, breathing, and bleeding this genre didn’t get a ...

Breanna Nix hugs her young son backstage as she prepares for her Grand Ole Opry debut, radiating joy ahead of her biggest country music milestone yet.

Breanna Nix Will Make Her Grand Ole Opry Debut and She’s Bringing the Fire With Her

Third place? Nah. Breanna Nix didn’t come off American Idol with a consolation prize. She walked out with a calling. Just days after closing out Season 23 as the sleeper ...

John Foster performs onstage in a tan jacket and cowboy hat, holding a guitar and singing into a microphone under purple lighting.

John Foster Believes There Was a Bigger Reason He Came Second on American Idol

John Foster didn’t come in first on American Idol but let’s be real. The trophy ain’t what gets you to Nashville. It’s what you do after the cameras shut off ...

Dolly Parton stands on stage holding a microphone, wearing a white blazer and black gloves, speaking passionately with two pastel armchairs behind her under soft lighting.

Dolly Parton Reveals the Cost Behind the Career Everyone Thinks Is Perfect

Everyone wants the rhinestones. Nobody signs up for the grindstone. At 79 years old, Dolly Parton stood at the opening of her own Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit and ...

Tim McGraw and George Strait stand side by side onstage, smiling with arms raised and guitars in hand, sharing a moment of camaraderie and mutual respect during a live performance.

Tim McGraw Says He Passed on “Carrying Your Love With Me” Out of Respect for George Strait

Tim McGraw has never been short on hits. The guy basically owned the ’90s. But even legends have moments they look back on and think, “Damn, that one got away.” ...