Yesterday, Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated documentary “Miss Americana” premiered on Netflix and I was lucky enough to score a ticket to see it on the big screen at iPic Theaters. I am a huge Taylor Swift fan so this was such a cool experience for me, but this isn’t about me, it’s about the amazing side of Taylor the world got to know yesterday. Even if you are not a huge fan of hers, this documentary is sure to help you gain an appreciation for her work ethic and talent. Here’s five things the public learned about Taylor in her new documentary, and warning, spoilers ahead!
1. She works so damn hard
Some of my favorite scenes of the movie were when Taylor was shown working with her team. Seeing her at the head of that table of executives was something so powerful, and you can see that she truly cares for her business and brand. Not only is she involved with every aspect of her career, she really cares. Every lyric, every social media post, every tour is 100% Taylor’s hard work and creativity.
2. Friends and family (and her cats) come first for this major star
Taylor has grown so much during her time in the spotlight, but one thing has remained the same, her family and friends are the most important thing in her life. Seeing her at her Nashville home cooking dinner with Abigail, whom she’s known since they were 15 was something so special. The intimate moments between her and her mother Andrea were some that brought me to tears in the theatre. When Taylor and Andrea cried in each other’s arms on the one-year anniversary of Taylor’s sexual assault trial you could see that they held a special bond, something that Taylor will always treasure.
3. Taylor is not the same naïve 16-year-old girl anymore
In this documentary, you saw Taylor grow from the young girl who listened and did what she was told, to the accomplished woman she is today. She saw the world changing around her and knew she had to do something. During the scene with her team discussing whether or not she should delve into politics on social media, you could tell how important this issue was for her and how she regretted not sharing her opinions in the past. You can only imagine how hard it must’ve been to be a teenager in the public eye, developing your own morals and values in front of an audience.
4. Her songwriting process is incredible
I loved getting an inside look of Taylor in the studio, working out lyrics and referencing back to her 4 am voice recordings. It not only looks like an insane process, but she has so much fun during it, you can see why she has been doing it for so many years. Flashbacks in the movie to her performing in front of her family show that she’s had a similar process most of her life, a young Taylor noting that she “just finished it five minutes ago.” Who knew all these amazing lyrics came from an excitement-filled chaotic songwriting process.
5. She is just like all of us
Yes, she is a multi-million-dollar recording artist, and yes she can have and do whatever she wants. But this film showed us that she has struggles and insecurities just like every other millennial woman. A candid conversation in the car shares how her body image struggled, and she dealt with an eating disorder. Another scene shows how social media has impacted her life. Many scenes show her second-guessing and thinking back on her decisions. These are all things that young people deal with, insecurity, uncertainty, self-awareness. The only difference is she had to do these things in front of a crowd, and we don’t thank her enough for being brave enough to share these things with the world.
I am a major Taylor Swift fan, so of course, I love and appreciate this film, but I hope everyone can spend some time watching it and realize why so many people adore her. You may not like country or pop music, you may have never even listened to a Taylor Swift song, but seeing her work is insane, and you will want to know more about her, and maybe give her discography a chance.