Taylor Swift hits right notes at Ford Field concert - Detroit Free Press

With a unique mix of superstar poise and girl-next-door wholesomeness, Taylor Swift swept into Ford Field on Saturday for one of the biggest concerts she's played yet.

It was just the second stadium headlining show of the 21-year-old star's career, and she made the most of the occasion for a rosy cheeked, young crowd of 47,922 people, fitting two hours of sing-along, scream-along hits into a Broadway-inspired visual spectacle.

The late-evening sun was still seeping through Ford Field's frosted panes when Swift took the stage at 8:45 p.m., greeted by a colorful array of flashing cell phones, glow-sticks and I-LUV-U-TAYLOR handmade signs.

She paused to take in the extended applause following her opening performance of "Sparks Fly," her famously innocent demeanor accompanied by a new edge of sultriness.

Bonded with her audience like a best friend or big sister, Swift kept a sweetness in her confident performance, eyes sparkling as she addressed fans.

"You guys are just so nice," she said.

Even at 5-foot-11-inches and in a glittering fringed dress, Swift often was a small presence in the cavernous Ford Field, and fans' gazes were often locked onto the video screens flanking her massive stage.

"It's still sinking in to me that this is a stadium," she said early in the night.

Her set made room for a touch of country twang, the fetching pop melodies of songs like "You Belong with Me" and the grittier guitars of "Better Than Revenge."

It was a night of quick costume changes and a show loosely structured in a series of acts, on a versatile stage that saw Swift and her cast of actor-dancers springing up from below.

Swift made her way up a golden gazebo for "The Story of Us," and watched confetti snow drift across the front rows as she took to a white baby grand piano for a perfectly lovely "Back to December." A wedding scene -- complete with church pews -- was rolled out for "Speak Now," a front-porch hootenanny for "Our Song."

She had a ukulele in hand for a mid-show spell at a satellite stage on the main floor, having been escorted through the shrieking crowd by a pair of guards.

The sound was often washed out in the reverb-drenched Ford Field, but that was OK for a crowd that knew all these songs inside out.

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Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift Close Out CMA Fest With a Bang - FOX News

Published June 13, 2011

| FoxNews.com

Special guests and sing-a-longs helped enhance the Country Music Association Music Festival fan experience at LP Field.

Taylor Swift closed out the fourth and final night of concerts Sunday with an energetic set that included career-spanning hits such as "Our Song", "Love Story" and "Story Of Us".

"The cool thing about being on this stage is you get a really good view," said Swift pausing to gaze at the cheering audience before launching into her bluegrass infused single "Mean".

Swift had her signature "13" painted on her right hand and Sugarland lyrics painted down her left arm that said: "Remember me in ribbons and curls, love your baby girl." She thrilled the in-field by running through the crowd to a second, roof top stage, where she played the ukulele and sang "Fearless".

Newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert both acknowledged their recent nuptials during their CMA Fest performances.

Lambert thanked fans for giving her the best wedding present: her third No. 1 hit for "Heart Like Mine." She said she found out on her wedding day four weeks ago.

At one point, Lambert brought out her newly-formed girl band, Pistol Annies, to play their new single, "Hell on Heels." Backstage, Lambert said the band, with friends Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, is "everything but a goofy side project" for her.

During her set, the crowd found out how she feels about beach balls being thrown while she's singing. One landed on stage, and she stomped the air out of it with her high heel, saying: "Is it just me or do those beach balls irritate the hell out of y'all?" She then asked everyone to hold onto them while she sang the emotional "The House That Built Me."

Surprise guest Trace Adkins got one of the biggest reactions of the night when he joined Shelton on "Hillbilly Bone." The stadium reverberated each time fans yelled "Yee haw" on cue.

Other full band performers Sunday night included The JaneDear Girls, Darius Rucker and The Band Perry.

Rucker got the crowd on its feet and answering back with a rousing version of "Family Tradition." The Band Perry had tens of thousands of backup singers during their performance of "If I Die Young." The single has sold more than 2 million copies.

The CMA Music Festival TV special featuring performances from LP Field will air later this summer on ABC.

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Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift 'Feel Horrible' About Concert Cancellation - MTV.com

The weather just didn't want to cooperate with the Black Eyed Peas, Taylor Swift and the other artists slated to perform in New York's Central Park on Thursday night at a concert to benefit the Robin Hood Foundation anti-poverty organization. After a number of delays, and before anyone could take the stage, the Concert 4 NYC had been canceled.

The show, which had been slated to take place on Central Park's Great Lawn and was expected to draw an audience of approximately 60,000 fans, initially was just delayed but concert promoters eventually decided to pull the plug on the event as the weather worsened and thunder and rain rolled in, Billboard.com reports. Among the other acts that had been scheduled to perform were Debbie Harry, LL Cool J and Natasha Bedingfield.

A rep for the concert has confirmed to MTV News that no new date has been scheduled. In a statement, the Robin Hood Foundation said, "The heat wasn't going to stop them, the rain wasn't going to stop them, but the lightning — it stopped them. It came down to safety for everyone. Organizers are hoping to reschedule, so ticket buyers should hold onto their tickets. Robinhood.org will have information in the next week or so."

The artists themselves also have apologized to fans for the cancelation. Swift tweeted, "I was like 'I get to sing with Fergie in NYC?!' and then there was rain and lightning and they're like 'it's cancelled' and I was like [sad emoticon]."

The Black Eyed Peas, who reportedly performed an intimate show backstage for fans, also took to Twitter to posted about the nixed concert. "I'm so sad the show got postponed," will.i.am wrote.

"Fergie is really sorry it's not happening we feel horrible," Taboo added on his Twitter page. "We are devastated and Fergie told me to tweet this she loves u all ... I hope that the concert will be rescheduled ASAP, our pea-ple deserve it, my pea-ple from chase and robinhood deserve this NYC we love u."

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Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert close out Country Music Association Music Festival - The Celebrity Cafe.com

Country stars made appearances during the final night of concerts at the annual festival Taylor Swift performs at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville on June 12, 2011. UPI/Terry Wyatt

Country stars Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and Blake Shelton closed out the Country Music Association Music Festival at LP Field in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday.

Swift, donning a gold dress and Sugarland lyrics on her left arm, delighted concertgoers by dashing through the crowd to a rooftop stage and performing “Fearless.”

Before running to a second stage, Swift performed some of her most popular hits, including “Love Story,” “Mine,” “Our Song,” and “Story of Us.”

“The cool thing about being on this stage is you get a really good view,” she told the audience during her set, according to ABC News.

The award-winning singer-songwriter took to her Twitter feed following her performance to thank those who were in attendance for the festival’s finale.

“Just played the last night of CMA Music Fest (um, you guys were amazing!!),” she wrote. “Then I went home and baked until 2:41 AM.”

Newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton also closed out the festival, with the “Heart Like Mine” singer thanking fans for giving her another No. 1 hit and The Voice judge bringing out special guest Trace Adkins to perform “Hillbilly Bone.”

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<b>Taylor Swift</b> DETROIT STAR | oceanUP.com

Thx Megan & Mike! Videos under!

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Taylor Swift Talks Heart-Wrenching Break-Ups - Showbizspy.com

Monday June 13, 2011

TAYLOR Swift admits getting her own back in her writing couldn’t make some of her more heart-breaking splits more bearable.

The singer — who has made no secret of the fact she writes about her exes in all her songs — takes comfort in the fact that her fans love her songs and feel the same emotions as she does.

“A lot of my songs are about those full-blown relationships and absolute heart-wrenching break-ups but then some of them are just about thinking of someone,” she says.

“I think no matter what everybody is always thinking of someone at a certain time, whether you are thinking of someone you are not over, or thinking of someone you have a crush on or just thinking of someone that you are with. Everyone experiences the same emotions and that is what can make you feel a bit better.”

Taylor recently admitted she gets in trouble when it comes to light switches.

“I can never seem to figure out the light switches in hotel rooms,” she said.

“I am constantly in different countries where there is different light switch protocol. You are in these rooms looking for light switches and you just can’t find them. It is just so hard!”

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Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood Make Forbes Young & Rich List - The Boot

Rick Diamond, Getty Images

Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood work hard for their money -- and it shows. The two young superstars both ranked on Forbes' Best Paid Celebrities Under 30 list, joining an all-star cast.

Not surprisingly, Lady Gaga topped the list by grossing $170 million. She is followed by the youngest celeb to make the roll, 17-year-old teen heartthrob Justin Bieber, who raked in $53 million. Miami Heat star LeBron James came in third with $48 million, fourth place went to tennis star Roger Federer with $47 million, while Taylor rounded out the top five with $45 million.

Carrie brought in a cool $15 million, which placed her in the No. 19 slot. Other celebs on the list include Katy Perry with $44 million, Rihanna with $29 million, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart who tied with $20 million and Miley Cyrus who earned $15 million.

Taylor seems to be earning a permanent spot on Forbes lists. The 21-year-old has placed on their annual Celebrity 100, Highest Earning Women, Most Powerful Celebrities and their Highest Earning Stars lists. In spite of her big paychecks, the humble star says her bank account isn't the biggest perk of her job.

"I feel like out of all of the things that have happened to me in my life, [my fans] are the best thing that I've ever gotten to have," she tells The Boot. "My relationship with them is everything to me, and the fact that this was the by product of that, it makes it that much more beautiful."

Taylor is in the middle of the U.S. leg of her Speak Now World tour. Fellow country music millionaire, Mrs. Mike Fisher, is spending the next several days in Australia promoting her 'Play On' album, as well as her new film, 'Soul Surfer.' Next, she will head back home to Nashville, Tenn. to work on a new album.

Keep track of Taylor's concert schedule here.

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CMT Awards 2011: Taylor Swift takes top honor, Justin Beiber brings crossover ... - Washington Post

Taylor Swift’s fans gave her another trophy, Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me” continued its extraordinary run and Sheryl Crow’s underwear stole the show at the fan-voted 2011 CMT Music Awards.

Swift won the night’s biggest award, video of the year, for her song “Mine” thanks to her fans. Lambert took female video of the year for the life-changing song that’s earned her a Grammy and the major country awards already and her new husband, Blake Shelton, was the night’s only multiple winner.

Swift, who won the fan-voted entertainer of the year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards earlier this year, joined the show via live video uplink from Wisconsin where she’s on tour.

“I wish I could be there, but I’m hanging out with 15,000 of my closest friends in Milwaukee,” Swift said as frenzied fans screamed in the background.

Shelton and Lambert also weren’t able to make it and they missed some interesting moments.

As with many awards shows, the CMT music awards had their share of unplanned but memorable events, including Shania Twain falling on her way to the stage and a wardrobe malfunction from Sherly Crow. As Sarah Anne Hughes explained:

Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Blake Shelton all went home with CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night. But it’s the stars who suffered “oops” moments that are getting the spotlight.

Shania Twain, who, thanks in part to her OWN docu-drama, is coming out of an extremely reclusive period, appeared at the show in a “Thelma and Louise” spoof with Taylor Swift and as a presenter. But her night was sullied as she tripped and fell on her way to the stage.

In a video posted to her Web site, Twain laughed off the fall, saying she wasn’t injured “making a fool” of herself. She may auction off the shoes she was wearing at the time.

For your daily dose of schadenfraude, watch clip of the trip below.

Twain wasn’t the only country music lady who had a less-than-great moment. While appearing onstage with Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow accidentally let the crowd see what she had on under her mini dress.

Crow confirmed the flash while onstage with Sara Evans, who quipped, “At least you were wearing underwear.”

Some of the most interesting moment at the CMT Awards were the unlikely mashups and cross-genre performances. As AP reported:

Ludacris made a surprise appearance, as did Sheryl Crow’s underwear. Lady Antebellum laid down a funky beat with Charles Kelley doing a Don Henley impression. And a sassy Wynonna Judd put Kid Rock in his place.

As often is the case at the CMT Awards, though, the show was as memorable for its unlikely mashups and celebrity cross-pollination moments as for its winners.

Swift joined Shania Twain for their own pre-recorded faux movie trailer of “Thelma & Louise” that included guest appearances by Donald Trump and Kenny Rogers. Justin Bieber induced tears from teenagers as he walked the red carpet with Rascal Flatts. Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and “Dancing With the Stars” champion Hines Ward wore cowboy boots and shook his hips on stage.

Lady A turned in one of the night’s most interesting performances. The trio opened with its record-setting single “Just a Kiss” before singer Charles Kelley jumped on the drums as the band switched to Prince’s “Kiss.”

Wynonna Judd put Kid Rock in his place and taught him a little something about country on a duet of his “Hell, Yes, I’m Country.” And near the end of the show, fans audibly gasped as Twain slipped and fell on her way to the stage.

Jason Aldean, who was shut out after earning a leading four nominations, topped off the night with a surprise version of his hip hop-infused hit “Dirt Road Anthem” with rapper Ludacris. It was a perfect end to a show that thrived on unlikely pairings.

More from The Washington Post

CMT Awards: Complete list of winners

Celebritology: ‘Super 8’ to get surprise early premiere

Style: Oprah’s final numbers

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Taylor Swift's Worldwide Fans Fit Her to a 'Tea' - The Boot

Wade Payne, AP

Taylor Swift has accumulated thousands of frequent flyer miles this year, traveling to a multitude of countries on a tour that has taken her to some incredible destinations throughout the world.

"Touring internationally is one of coolest things I've got to do this year," an excited Taylor told The Boot backstage before her CMA Music Fest performance on Sunday. "We started off the year in January going to Asia, touring in places I never thought I'd go to like the Philippines, Singapore, Korea, and then back to Japan (Taylor was there in 2010).

"Then we went straight to Europe, getting to play in places where I never thought people would know the words to all my songs, like in Germany, Italy and Spain. I looked out and they knew every word; it was an amazing experience."

Taylor has revamped her Speak Now world tour show for North America, having already made appearances in Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Detroit, Mich.'s Ford Field, her first stadium date on the tour. The two-hour-plus show based roughly on theatrical elements includes 17 songs and nine costume changes. In addition, there are dance numbers, aerial stunts and pyrotechnics, all precisely choreographed.

"It's so cool to put on a different kind of tour in the U.S. and North America," says the young superstar. Internationally, we had to have a stage you could take everywhere. So this has been amazing ... we just played our first stadium in Detroit and I have a permanent smile because of it."

The singer admits to having a Broadway scenario to her stage setup, saying, "I have been inspired by a lot of different things, and since I was a little kid I have been fascinated by Broadway. You have all those set pieces coming from all angles, and then suddenly you're in the experience, you're in the story. I've seen that done really well on Broadway, so since I started in theater that's where that inspiration comes from."

Taylor played to 50,000 screaming fans in Detroit, and she describes it as nothing short of amazing. "There we were, surrounded by 50,000 people who are singing the same thing. You look out and it's a sea of people as far as you can see. I feel so lucky to have had that experience and that memory."

The 21-year old says she has a pretty diverse crowd who come to her shows. "I see every kind of person, every age, and that is so wonderful to see. There are a lot of girls my age who, if I lived in their town, we'd probably hang out. It feels like with my fans there is a camaraderie.

"When I walk out on stage, if they're there and singing along with my songs, they've been through the same things. When I meet a fan it's not like I'm meeting a stranger; I already know they're on same page with me. I have so much fun with them; they are incredibly cool people."

Taylor takes every opportunity to thank her fans, not only by tweeting and chatting with them on Facebook, but by hanging out with them at her stops on the tour.

"We have so much fun with the shows. There are several meet-and-greets before the show and then after the show we have this tea party meet-and-greet. During the show I have people going around through the concert and they know what I like. They look for really passionate people in the audience, maybe in the top row, maybe in the fourth row -- anyone dancing and having the best time, or dressed up like characters from a music video or maybe they're all lit up. We invite them backstage after the show and we have so much fun because we get all these people together in one room for the meet-and-greet."

The Speak Now world tour heads for St. Paul, Minn. for two shows, June 14 and 15, then it's on to Pittsburgh, Pa. on June 18. The tour continues through November, when it ends with two nights in New York City on Nov. 21 and 22.

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<b>Taylor Swift's</b> Worldwide Fans Fit Her to a 'Tea' - The Boot

Wade Payne, AP

Taylor Swift has accumulated thousands of frequent flyer miles this year, traveling to a multitude of countries on a tour that has taken her to some incredible destinations throughout the world.

"Touring internationally is one of coolest things I've got to do this year," an excited Taylor told The Boot backstage before her CMA Music Fest performance on Sunday. "We started off the year in January going to Asia, touring in places I never thought I'd go to like the Philippines, Singapore, Korea, and then back to Japan (Taylor was there in 2010).

"Then we went straight to Europe, getting to play in places where I never thought people would know the words to all my songs, like in Germany, Italy and Spain. I looked out and they knew every word; it was an amazing experience."

Taylor has revamped her Speak Now world tour show for North America, having already made appearances in Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wis.; and Detroit, Mich.'s Ford Field, her first stadium date on the tour. The two-hour-plus show based roughly on theatrical elements includes 17 songs and nine costume changes. In addition, there are dance numbers, aerial stunts and pyrotechnics, all precisely choreographed.

"It's so cool to put on a different kind of tour in the U.S. and North America," says the young superstar. Internationally, we had to have a stage you could take everywhere. So this has been amazing ... we just played our first stadium in Detroit and I have a permanent smile because of it."

The singer admits to having a Broadway scenario to her stage setup, saying, "I have been inspired by a lot of different things, and since I was a little kid I have been fascinated by Broadway. You have all those set pieces coming from all angles, and then suddenly you're in the experience, you're in the story. I've seen that done really well on Broadway, so since I started in theater that's where that inspiration comes from."

Taylor played to 50,000 screaming fans in Detroit, and she describes it as nothing short of amazing. "There we were, surrounded by 50,000 people who are singing the same thing. You look out and it's a sea of people as far as you can see. I feel so lucky to have had that experience and that memory."

The 21-year old says she has a pretty diverse crowd who come to her shows. "I see every kind of person, every age, and that is so wonderful to see. There are a lot of girls my age who, if I lived in their town, we'd probably hang out. It feels like with my fans there is a camaraderie.

"When I walk out on stage, if they're there and singing along with my songs, they've been through the same things. When I meet a fan it's not like I'm meeting a stranger; I already know they're on same page with me. I have so much fun with them; they are incredibly cool people."

Taylor takes every opportunity to thank her fans, not only by tweeting and chatting with them on Facebook, but by hanging out with them at her stops on the tour.

"We have so much fun with the shows. There are several meet-and-greets before the show and then after the show we have this tea party meet-and-greet. During the show I have people going around through the concert and they know what I like. They look for really passionate people in the audience, maybe in the top row, maybe in the fourth row -- anyone dancing and having the best time, or dressed up like characters from a music video or maybe they're all lit up. We invite them backstage after the show and we have so much fun because we get all these people together in one room for the meet-and-greet."

The Speak Now world tour heads for St. Paul, Minn. for two shows, June 14 and 15, then it's on to Pittsburgh, Pa. on June 18. The tour continues through November, when it ends with two nights in New York City on Nov. 21 and 22.

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CMA Music Fest: <b>Taylor Swift</b>, Miranda Lambert close out LP Field <b>...</b>

Click to see a gallery of photos from Sunday night's CMA Music Festival show at LP Field (this image of Taylor Swift: Larry McCormack/The Tennessean).

Duo the JaneDear Girls opened the last of four CMA Music Festival stadium shows at LP Field with a set that included the thrusting rock of initial single “Wildflower” and the contemplative ballad “Saturdays In September.” After band member Susie Brown performed a brief and energetic fiddle showcase of “The Devil Went Down To Georgia” and “Orange Blossom Special,” Brown and Danelle Leverett closed with current single “Shotgun Girl.”

Jimmy Wayne’s powerful solo set found him playing deft guitar and performing his country hits “Stay Gone” and “Do You Believe Me Now?” along with a cover of the Hall & Oates pop staple “Sara Smile.” Wayne is a rich-voiced singer-songwriter, with a presence that proved capable of captivating a mass live audience.

The Band Perry followed Wayne with a set that traded on accessibility and harmony. Single “If I Die Young” was the group’s best-received song, with a stadium full of fans singing along.

Darius Rucker, who still leads guitar-pop group Hootie & The Blowfish on occasion, opened his country set with “Alright,” and included “Come Back Song” and “I Got Nothin’.” Rucker upped the applause ante with his version of the Hootie single “Only Wanna Be With You,” and his up-tempo song, “This.” Rucker concluded with a medley of past country hits, cementing his appeal with contemporary country fans.

Tracy Lawrence played a set prior to Blake Shelton’s stage turn, singing “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” and other hits. And then Shelton took the stage with “It’s All About Tonight” and delivered a set that included runs through J. Geils Band “Centerfield” and Bobby Brown’s “My Prerogative.”

Shelton offered up “Kiss My Country (expletive),” a song that disparages anyone who doesn’t embrace a Confederate ideal, but his warm baritone is more inclusively appealing than that tune’s lyrics. He ended with summertime hit “Honey Bee” and duet “Hillbilly Bone,” with Trace Adkins.

“This next artist I’m going to bring out is a country music innovator, and she is going to melt your faces off,” Shelton said, introducing wife Miranda Lambert. Shelton isn’t impassive, but neither is he incorrect. Lambert began her set with the propulsive “Kerosene,” then delivered the humorous and poignant “Only Prettier.”

“I want to say thank you for the most amazing country fans in world,” Lambert said, before singing ballad “The House That Built Me,” the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music song of the year award winner.

Lambert then introduced her trio partners in The Pistol Annies, Angaleena Presley and Ashley Monroe, and sang “Hell On Wheels,” before closing her set with “White Liar” and “”Gunpowder and Lead.”

Cross-genre superstar Taylor Swift concluded the night with a hit-filled coda. Swift opened her set at 11:35 p.m., with much of LP Field still filled with fans, preceded by a volume-up recording of Tom Petty’s “American Girl.”

“She’s sold more albums this year than any other human being on the planet,” said GAC’s Storme Warren, introducing Swift, whose CMA-ending set reached its climax with “Our Song,” a composition about shared melody, rhyme and memory. Swift’s set was a fitting end to a festival that put music at the forefront, and that spotlighted the interaction between fans and recording artists.

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<b>Taylor Swift</b> News - <b>Taylor Swift</b> Is a Golden Girl at CMA Music <b>...</b>

Wearing a gold dress and lyrics scribbled on her arm, Taylor Swift was ready to close out the CMA Music Festival Nightly Concerts for good.

Swift performed during the finale of the Nashville concert series, taking the stage in her usual “uniform.” As she’s been doing of late, Taylor’s left arm bore a bunch of words — this time around, they turned out to be some abridged Sugarland lyrics: “Remember me in ribbons and curls … Love, your baby girl.” Taylor’s arm reads.

The writing on the arm/hand bit has been going on with Swift for years. Before each big show, performance or interview, she scribbles “13? on her hand, as it’s her lucky number. It’s even a part of her Twitter handle, @taylorswift13.

Swift even spoke about the big show on Twitter, saying: “Just played the last night of CMA Music Fest (um,you guys were amazing!!). Then I went home and baked until 2:41 AM.”

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Taylor Swift Caps CMA Music Festival With Love - CMT.com

Amid a variety of styles and sounds, all of the performers at Sunday night's (June 12) concert at LP Field all shared one emotion -- an intense feeling of gratitude towards the fans to close out the 2011 CMA Music Festival.

The yearly fan fest wrapped up with an exciting show that included Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Darius Rucker, The Band Perry and the JaneDear Girls. Special guests and surprises followed, but the main thing on each singer's mind seemed to be celebrating the joy of country music's most faithful followers.

Swift has had much practice in this department, often thanking her fans on awards shows and surveying her crowd in awe during concerts, but her headlining spot at this year's event held special significance for the now world-famous singer.

"I'm so honored to be here at the biggest country music party in the world," she announced in greeting the massive audience. "I was about 15 the first time I came to CMA Fest, and I sat right over there!" she said, pointing somewhere to the right of the stage.

With that, she invited everyone to listen to her tell a few "stories" and promptly jumped into her latest single, "The Story of Us." Wearing a sparkling gold mini-dress, she pranced across the stage with arms raised and flinging her hair wildly, sometimes acting out portions of her lyrics with bandmates.

"You are so absolutely incredible, thank you!" she said after picking up a guitjo (a banjo with a guitar neck) and launching into "Our Song." That followed with her other guitjo tune, the redemptive "Mean."

Then, like a slow moving bolt of lightning energizing the crowd, she and an escort of security guards left the stage and began working straight through the audience. Spotlights and camera flashes twinkled off her dress as the mass of humanity began to part and Swift skipped through fans, high-fiving her way to a special stage built in the center of the stadium.

As she reached her mark, the crowd re-adjusted around the small stage, and Swift introduced another weapon in her arsenal, a ukulele.

Calling it "the happiest sounding instrument -- ever," she picked an equally upbeat song, "Fearless," and added in pieces of Train's "Hey Soul Sister" and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" for good measure. Most likely, the performance will be featured on the festival special airing later this summer on ABC.

Returning to the main stage, she enticed fans to sing along to "You Belong With Me" and signed off with "Love Story," bringing a warm and fuzzy feeling to the last notes of the festival.

Before Swift tore the house down, though, it had to be built first.

Shelton's performance was one of the night's many highlights, as the newly-married Oklahoman delighted fans with a guest appearance from Trace Adkins on "Hillbilly Bone" and used his lighthearted sense of humor to help tell a story about family. Explaining he was clearly "damaged," he attempted to describe why by playing snippets of various songs that could be heard in the Shelton household.

First up was his parents' pick with Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music White Boy," then his brother's with the J. Geils Band's "Centerfold" and finally his sister's with Bobby Brown's "My Prerogative." After all that, he talked about working up the nerve to ask his sister to turn it down one day, only to have the door slammed in his face. This led fittingly to his response, "Kiss My Country Ass."

The CMA's reigning male vocalist of the year started off his set with "All About Tonight," then slowed things down briefly with "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" before the crowd erupted during the first few notes of "Honey Bee," Shelton's latest No. 1.

Shelton's wife, Miranda Lambert, took the stage just after her husband (a word she said she's still getting used to) and offered a selection of songs starting and ending with the explosive duo of "Kerosene" and "Gunpowder & Lead." In between, she offered the sassy "Only Prettier" and the rejuvenating "House That Built Me." The latter produced what was described by some in the crowd as "the most beautiful moment" of the show as cell phones and lighters dotted the audience and blue lights washed over the stadium. Fans sang along with her current single "Heart Like Mine" and reveled in Lambert's admission to being "one of those redneck chicks" that you see all around the festival.

As a bonus, she took the opportunity to introduce the crowd to her side project, a trio called the Pistol Annies. Featuring Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley, Lambert correctly described them as "a band of hot chicks," and the trio performed the girl-power anthem, "Hell on Heels."

Rucker also praised his fans, thanking them over and over for "letting him in" to country music. He brought the crowd to its feet from the moment he took the stage with the feel-good "Alright" and serenaded them through "Comeback Song," "This" and his current chart climber, "I Got Nothin'." Old standards like Hootie & the Blowfish's "I Only Want to Be With You" proved to still inspire fans, and his enthusiastic cover of Hank Williams Jr.'s "Family Tradition" earned the award for the night's loudest singalong.

Earlier in the night, The Band Perry riled up the crowd with a gracious and quick-moving set. Fresh off scoring their first two wins at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday (June 8), they sent the crowd into a frenzy with their No. 1 hit, "If I Die Young."

"We believe country is the people's music, and this song belongs to you," said Kimberly Perry.

For a newer group, it was refreshing to hear the big audience sing most of the song note for note, and many in attendance were familiar enough with "You Lie" to do the same for that one.

To open the show, fresh-faced duo the JaneDear Girls got their first taste of the CMA's main stage. Energetic and engaging, they mixed their voices into a thick harmony on "Wildflower" and "Shotgun Girl," while fiddler-singer Susie Brown showed off her skills on an instrumental medley of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and "Orange Blossom Special."

Edens Edge performed the national anthem, while Jimmy Wayne, the Eli Young Band and Tracy Lawrence played from the "acoustic stage" while set changes were going on behind them.

As the final notes rang out and fireworks exploded overhead, the 40th annual CMA Music Festival ended on a high note with many fans pledging to return. Since they had yet to even reach the exits of the stadium, it's no wonder performers are so genuinely grateful year after year.

View photos of Sunday night's concert at LP Field.

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Taylor Swift and ACM Lifting Lives present $50,000 donation to St. Jude - The Tennessean (blog)

ACM Lifting Lives executive director Erin Spahn and Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift just helped wrap up the 2011 CMA Music Festival, but the country/pop star’s big weekend wasn’t just about her. On Saturday, she joined with the Academy of Country Music‘s charitable arm ACM Lifting Lives to present St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with a donation of $50,000.

The financial contribution comes as part of the ACM Lifting Lives Entertainer of the Year Matching Gift program. Lifting Lives teams up with the year’s reigning top entertainer — currently Swift — and doubles a gift that musician makes to the charity of their choice. Swift contributed $25,000, and Lifting Lives matched.

ACM Lifting Lives executive director Erin Spahn met up with Swift Saturday at her sold-out Speak Now tour stop in Detroit, and the two checks headed for St. Jude met up.

St. Jude has received a good share of support from the country music community this year — the pediatric cancer center was Celebrity Apprentice winner John Rich‘s chosen charity, and his work on that show raised more than $1.25 million.

This marks the Matching Gift program’s third year; past recipients are the C.A.T.S. Foundation, the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and MusiCares.

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Taylor Swift's Arm Lyrics Decoded - 95.5 WPLJ

Anyone who's seen a picture of Taylor Swift in concert lately will notice that instead of writing her lucky number 13 on her hand, as she usually does, she's now taken to scrawling entire sentences on her arms in black sharpie.  Those sentences are actually lyrics from songs -- not her own, but those of artists she admires.  USA Today has compiled a list of Taylor's "arm lyrics" and explains why she may have chosen each one.

Here's a sampling:

June 8th: "I slept in castles and fell in love because I was taught to dream," from Faith Hill's "Fireflies."
Why: Faith is one of Taylor's big musical influences.

June 7th:  "One life, you got to do what you should," from U2's "One."
Why: Earlier this year, Taylor said she'd like to duet with Bono.

June 4th: "I guess we're all one phone call from our knees," from Mat Kearney's "Closer to Love."
Why:  Taylor's a fan and has gone to see Kearney in concert.

June 3rd: "It took a while to understand the beauty of just letting go," from the Dixie Chicks' "Fly."
Why: Taylor was inspired by the Dixie Chicks when she first started writing songs.

June 2nd: "And for one desperate moment there, he crept back in her memory," from Tom Petty's "American Girl."
Why: The song plays over the sound system before she takes the stage on tour, and she counts Petty among her musical heroes.

May 28th:  "I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone," from Alanis Morissette's "You Learn."
Why: USA Today says Taylor has Alanis' albums on her iPod.

May 27th: "You gotta keep your head up, and you can let your hair down," from Andy Grammer's "Keep Your Head Up."
Why: Taylor had tweeted about singing along to this current hit on the way to her tour rehearsal.

May 21st: "You've got every right to a beautiful life," from Selena Gomez's "Who Says."
Why: Selena and Taylor are old friends.

Taylor Swift - News, Videos & More

Image: John Russell/CMA

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Taylor talks break-ups - The Nation, Pakistan

No review petition against SC order | Read More Opp Leader: Dar seeks complete record | Read More Pakistan for early resumption of strategic dialogue with United States | Read More Capital Blast: Interior Minister bestows martyred Security Guard with Sitar-e- Shujaat | Read More PML-N destined to lose: Pervaiz Elahi | Read More Mukhtaran Mai's brother involved in abusing power: WikiLeaks | Read More US companies could have crashed in Pakistan: WikiLeaks | Read More Benazir, Shujaat meeting in 2006 was not perchance: WikiLeaks | Read More IPPs warn govt to suspend 825MW power supply over non payment | Read More TAYLOR Swift admits getting her own back in her writing couldn?t make some of her more heart-breaking splits more bearable.
The singer ? who has made no secret of the fact she writes about her exes in all her songs ? takes comfort in the fact that her fans love her songs and feel the same emotions as she does.
?A lot of my songs are about those full-blown relationships and absolute heart-wrenching break-ups but then some of them are just about thinking of someone,? she says. ?I think no matter what everybody is always thinking of someone at a certain time, whether you are thinking of someone you are not over, or thinking of someone you have a crush on or just thinking of someone that you are with. Everyone experiences the same emotions and that is what can make you feel a bit better.? ?SS

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Taylor Swift's Elaborate New Tour - People

Sparks fly, snow swirls, dancers in black cat suits swing like clappers inside huge bronze bells, and a white grand piano rises out of the floor in the new Taylor Swift concert tour kicking off Friday night in Omaha.

"The tour is exactly how my imagination looks and I'm so excited that we get to have these entire scenes created on stage," says Swift.

When the huge red velvet curtain parts, the "Speak Now" tour takes off with "Sparks Fly" as fireworks shoot from mini-cannons, and ends with "Love Story," performed as Swift floats above the audience in an enclosed balcony while aerialists soar Cirque du Soleil style.

In between, a snowstorm envelops Swift seated at the piano for "Back to December," an Appalachian front porch sets the scene for "Our Song," and guests fill pews before Swift interrupts the bride and groom's wedding vows to "Speak Now."

"I started out in theater so you definitely see influences of that," Swift says.

Wearing a gown by Reem Acra, Swift turned the final dress rehearsal, performed in front of a paying audience on May 21, into a fundraiser for tornado victims. She raised more than than $750,000.

"It was just such a magical night knowing that every single person in the room donated to people who have lost everything," Swift said.

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Taylor Swift disappointed over gig cancellation - Monsters and Critics

By Vicky Allison Jun 10, 2011, 14:16 GMT

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Taylor Swift Triumphs and Shania Twain Trips at CMT Awards - Rolling Stone

Kid Rock and Wynonna Judd perform at the 2011 CMT Awards, June 8, 2011.

Taylor Swift's "Mine" won the award for Video of the Year at last night's CMT Music Awards, capping off an event in which honors were spread evenly among the biggest names in country music. Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert won for best male and female videos respectively, Lady Antebellum won for best group video and the Band Perry took home the award for Breakthrough Video of the Year for "If I Die Young." Other winners included Sugarland, Jimmy Buffet and the Zac Brown Band, video director Trey Fanjoy and the combo of Justin Bieber and Rascal Flatts, who shared the award for collaborative video.

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The show, which was hosted by Kid Rock, featured performances Lady Antebellum, the Band Perry and a team-up of Jason Aldean and rapper Ludacris, but the most memorable moments of the show were actually accidents. While getting up to dance during her performance with Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow's skirt raised high enough to flash her panties for a moment. "People all over America are tweeting that I was wearing a really short skirt when I sang with Kid Rock and that when I got up off the stool, I showed my underwear," an embarrassed Crow said later in the show, while presenting an award with Sara Evans.

Shania Twain, who has just signed a deal for a two-year concert residency in Las Vegas, tripped and fell while presenting the Male Video of the Year award to Blake Shelton. Luckily, Twain was not injured in the fall and took the embarrassing incident in stride. "I'm here to tell you that I now realize I don't need a stunt double to wipe out on my way to the CMT Awards stage," she joked in a video posted to her YouTube page after the show.

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