Spectators have taken plenty of pot-shots at some of today's most prominent musicians due to their "American Idol" associations or their relationships to previously established singers and songwriters — but singer-songwriter Taylor Swift can't be lumped into those categories.
Taylor, who turns 20 years old today, earned her seat at the top of the charts the old fashioned way — with a little bit of luck and a whole lot of talent. The results of Taylor's hard work speak for themselves in the form of hit singles off her self-titled debut album and 2008's "Fearless."
Of course, it's not necessarily Taylor's music career that the young talent is currently most known for. She found herself at the center of controversy when rap sensation Kanye West stormed the stage during her acceptance speech for the Best Female Video award at this year's MTV Video Music Awards, a misguided move on Kanye's part to show support for Beyonce, who lost the award to Taylor.
But the young singer-songwriter reacted to the embarrassing moment by revealing yet another facet of her multi-talented persona — an excellent sense of humor, as displayed by her opening monologue while hosting "Saturday Night Live." In her "Monologue Song," Taylor jokingly acknowledged her rumored relationship with "New Moon" actor Taylor Lautner, while also reacting to the Kanye incident with a good-natured but understandably sharp tone.
With Kanye's outburst out of the way and Taylor's comedic reaction equally well-known, it's time for the singer-songwriter to focus on her undoubtedly bright future, which includes a starring role in next year's romantic comedy "Valentine's Day."
For now, on her birthday at least, Taylor can enjoy a slice of cake and give herself a good old pat on the back. She's earned a lot of acclaim at this early stage in her career, after all, and she'll undoubtedly enjoy more good fortune in the coming years — assuming Kanye keeps his distance, that is!
Just as everyone has an opinion, a favorite meal and a nose — albeit a fake one at times — so too does everyone have a birthday... even celebrities. Here at Birthday Bash, it's our mission to salute the Hollywood heroes that are celebrating their special day this week. You can wish Taylor a happy birthday in the comments section below!
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