Taylor Swift through the years: From baby-faced singer to global icon

At the age of 12, Taylor Swift began writing songs and performing in her hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania. She often traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue her dream of becoming a country music star. In Taylor and her family moved to Nashville to better position her for a music career. Taylor Swift signed a contract with Big Machine Records, an independent label. She began recording her debut album, which included some of her early self-written songs. Her self-titled debut album, Taylor Swift, was released, earning critical acclaim and commercial success.