In 2019, Taylor Swift Stepped Into the Daylight and Shined Brighter Than Ever

In 2019, Taylor stepped back into the spotlight in a big way. During her Reputation era, she let her music do the talking, but this time around she was pretty much an open book. Not only did she do way more interviews and attend award shows, but she was also more active on social media. After a trying past few years, Taylor slowly began to let her fans back into her life.

As any Swiftie knows, Taylor expresses herself best through song, and her Lover album gave us even more rare glimpses into her personal life. While Taylor's Reputation album included tongue-in-cheek songs about her public persona, her Lover album was the complete opposite. Of course, there were songs about her romance with Joe Alwyn, but she also showed a more vulnerable side as she opened up about her mom Andrea's battle with cancer. She even touched on mental health as she talked about her overbearing anxiety in the album's prologue letter.

While Taylor's Reputation era was all about betrayal and revenge, the singer put all of that behind her in 2019. After feuding with fellow pop star Katy Perry for several years, the former frenemies buried the hatchet in June. Taylor even had Katy appear in her "You Need to Calm Down" music video as a public declaration that the "beef" between them was officially over.

Taylor also moved on from her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. While the three didn't exactly make up, she learned to not let the negative things in her life control her. During an interview with Rolling Stone, Taylor credited the Reputation stadium tour for helping her get over that dark time in her life. "That tour put me in the healthiest, most balanced place I've ever been. After that tour, bad stuff can happen to me, but it doesn't level me anymore."

Those same themes of letting go of the past and moving on from drama continuously pop up in her Lover album as well. In the opening track, "I Forgot That You Existed," she talks about brushing off the naysayers, and in the closing song, "Daylight," she talks about wanting to be remembered for the things she loves rather than the things she hates or is afraid of.

After switching music labels from Big Machine Records to Republic Records and UMG at the end of 2018, Taylor began to call even more shots in her career during her Lover era. In addition to owning her masters for the new album, she also codirected every single one of her music videos in 2019.

Taylor's Lover era also included a major partnership with Stella McCartney. In August, Taylor teamed up with the English fashion designer to create a merch-style collection of t-shirts, hoodies, bags, and sweatshirts inspired by Lover.

As if creating her own music videos and clothing wasn't enough, Taylor also created her own music festival. Instead of doing a Lover tour in 2020, Taylor has crafted her very own Lover Fest, which will include musical appearances from some of her famous friends.

Just like 2018, Taylor broke a few records and raked in some big achievements in 2019. In April, she was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people, marking the third time she's received the special honor.

During the Teen Choice Awards in August, she became the very first recipient of the Icon Award, where she graciously took a moment to thank her incredible fans. "I want to talk to the fans for a second," she said while holding the award adorned with photos of her cats. "You make me so happy. You make me laugh every day online. I love meeting you. I love loving you. You are the most generous people. Thank you for giving me the life I have. This is a really proud moment for me."

Following the release of her Lover album, Taylor dethroned A Star Is Born as the bestselling album of 2019, earning $500,000 in sales by its second day alone.

Taylor was the guest of honor at the 2019 American Music Awards as she took home the artist of the decade award for the impact she has made on pop music. During the award show, she also made history as the most awarded artist at the AMAs with 28 wins.

On top of all of that, Taylor is set to receive Billboard's first-ever woman of the decade award during the ceremony on Dec. 12.

After breaking her political silence in 2018, Taylor continued to use her platform to talk about issues close to her heart. On numerous occasions, she urged her fans to register to vote, and in her Rolling Stone interview, she talked about how she is really focused on the 2020 election. "I keep trying to learn as much as I can about politics, and it's become something I'm now obsessed with," she explained.

In addition to urging her fans to vote, Taylor also spoke up about LGBTQ+ rights. She donated $113,000 to the Tennessee Equality Project, she used her performances as an opportunity to show her support for the LGBTQ+ community, and she even created a Change.org petition in an effort to pass the Equality Act.

She also voiced her support for the LGBTQ+ community through her song "You Need to Calm Down." Not only does the music video make reference to the GLAAD organization and pride parades, but it's also a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community with rainbow imagery and numerous cameos from LGBTQ+ stars.

Taylor also got very vocal about why artists should own their music in 2019. After Scooter Braun acquired Big Machine Records in July, along with the music catalog for Taylor's first six albums, Taylor wrote a lengthy Tumblr post about why the sale was her "worst case scenario," claiming that she had received "incessant, manipulative bullying" from Scooter "for years."

Though her music catalog now belongs to Scooter, Taylor eventually revealed that she plans to rerecord her first five albums in an attempt to own the masters to her original music. "My contract says starting from November 2020, I can start rerecording albums one through five," she told Robin Roberts on Good Morning America in August. "I think artists deserve to own their own work. It's next year — I'm gonna be busy."