The Evolution of Taylor Swift From Country Star to Pop Icon

At 14 years old, Taylor was offered a record deal. The aspiring country singer signed with Big Machine Records in 2004.

In 2006, the singer released her self-titled debut album, Taylor Swift. It featured "Tim McGraw," which was her first top 40 hit.

With curly blonde hair, tricked out cowboy boots, and a collection of acoustic guitars, Taylor was a country star who was easy to love. The singer quickly became the genre's hottest up-and-coming artist.

In the span of one year, Taylor managed to make a huge name for herself in country music. The 18-year-old accepted the award for Breakthrough Video of the Year for "Tim McGraw" at the 2007 CMT Music Awards.

In 2008, Taylor released her second studio album to an eager audience. Fearless was even more successful than her first, and was her first No. 1 album.

Taylor looked like a princess in a purple strapless corset ballgown at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. Her nomination for "Best New Artist" made the night even more special.

If this isn't a sign that you've made it, we don't know what is. The country music star wore a sleeveless gold sequin to the annual Met Gala in 2008.

After appearing in a Jonas Brothers music video, rumors swirled of a romance between Taylor and Joe Jonas. She later revealed that he ended their relationship—which ran its course from July to October 2008—with a phone call that lasted less than 30 seconds. Yikes!

At the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, Taylor picked up trophies for Album of the Year, Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song, and Best Country Album. She was nominated for four more, too.

Two years after the success of Fearless, Taylor dropped Speak Now. The album included hits like "Dear John," "Enchanted," and "Back to December." The record, which quickly became a fan favorite, also spurred a 15-month world tour.

The singer put down her guitar and stepped in front of the camera for an appearance in Valentine's Day. Her film debut premiered in February 2010, just a few months after she broke up with her costar, Taylor Lautner.

At the Sundance Film Festival premiere of Ethel, Taylor was photographed with Rory and Ethel Kennedy. Soon after, the 22-year-old singer was linked to Conor Kennedy, the son of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (and who "Begin Again" is reportedly about).

Once Taylor Swift started dating Harry Styles, fans couldn't wait to hear what she'd say about him on her next album. She reportedly wrote "I Knew You Were Trouble," about the One Direction star. Years later, she confirmed the obvious: "Style" was also about the British crooner, telling Rolling Stone, "We should have just called [that song] 'I'm Not Even Sorry.'"

In 2013, Taylor got into one of her first public celebrity feuds. The alleged disagreement between her and Katy Perry took place in 2013, but fans weren't aware of it until the following year. When speaking about another star, Taylor told Rolling Stone: "She basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour. She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me." But don't worry: They've since made up!