Taylor Swift fans are legion. Why some call themselves ‘Senior Swifties’ – and how the pop star’s eras play a role.

A certain image may come to mind when you think of a Taylor Swift fan — that of a teenage girl covered in friendship bracelets, wearing outfits that represent any of the pop star’s eras.

In reality, Swift’s audience comes from all walks of life. They’re moms who found a community on Twitter, Gen Xers and Boomers who find inspiration in Swift’s lyrics, and even people in their 90s who find joy in dancing to her music.

“I think we are almost parentally proud of his brilliance as an artist, his work ethic, his financial acumen, his emotional genius and his kindness,” the author wrote. Paulo Slanskya 73-year-old self-proclaimed “Senior Swiftie” who is written about Swift’s older fans, he told Yahoo Entertainment.

As Slansky explained, the term “Senior Swiftie” is a label given to older Swift fans, though it means different things to people depending on their interpretation.

To some, it describes a fan who has followed the artist since she released her self-titled debut album in 2006, who has taken pride in witnessing every era of Swift as she evolved from country star to pop royalty. For others, it simply describes Swift fans in their 30s, 40s and older who have recently become interested in Swift’s music.

Some millennials, like Abby, 31, have found power in their “Senior Swiftie” status. The mother of one started Twitter @SeniorSwifties in 2021, as a tribute to the parents who love to talk about all things Swift.

“After joining Stan Twitter [communities for Swift] A few years ago, I quickly noticed that there were some younger individuals calling anyone over 25, so we went ahead and started playing the game, calling ourselves ‘seniors,'” she told Yahoo Entertainment.

“When you can network with lots of other people who have similar interests and then find people in similar life stages – shout out to the #SwiftieMoms – you really feel like you fit in,” she explained.

The ‘Taylor Effect’ flies

Slansky first discovered Swift after seeing her perform “All Very Well (10 minute version)” about Saturday night live. He was so impressed that he “immediately bought all the albums and analyzed them chronologically.”

“I discovered that each [the albums] it was full of great songs and it just kept growing,” he explained. “Since I found her, I think 90% of the songs I listen to are hers. She rejuvenated my interest in music. There are times when I wish I had been in on it from the beginning, but then I wouldn’t have been able to have that explosive revelation all at once.”

Love for Swift has also infiltrated nursing homes.

Every morning, Connie Chevalier, director of life enrichment at Primrose Retirement Community in Sedalia, Missouri, teaches a Zumba class with residents in their 90s. Calling themselves the “Primrose Sedalia Chiefs Cheerleaders,” they perform choreography to music while sitting in chairs.

Recently, the dancers went viral in front of Super Bowl LVIII after Chevalier posted a video on his personal Facebook on January 19. The short clip showed the group dancing to Tech N9ne’s “Red Kingdom” while cheering on Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

“I would call myself a Senior Swiftie,” Chevalier, 63, told Yahoo Entertainment. “Taylor has become very popular now, even people in our age group know her. Bringing it into our musical vocabulary and dancing is really cool.”

‘It’s not like you get old and stop feeling emotions’

As musicologist Nate Sloan told Yahoo Entertainment in October 2023, Swift’s 2012 album, Red, exemplified Swift’s shift from country to pop, particularly in songs like “We are never ever getting back together.” His transition from country artist to pop superstar was fully realized with the release of his next album in 2014, 1989which Swift credits as her first “official pop album.”

Suzanne Ely, 53, didn’t like Swift’s pop sound until the release of Red.

“The country thing didn’t do anything for me, but when Red came out, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah,’” Ely told Yahoo Entertainment. “Regardless of what she does and what she may represent to many people, [Swift] He’s simply talented. You can’t take that away from her.”

A self-described “Senior Swiftie,” Ely said listening to Swift’s music takes her back to her angsty teenage years, when music provided an escape from a world that felt “so big and so complicated.”

“It’s that feeling of being alone in my room. I could put on a record and feel everything. I can kind of release [my stress] and get some kind of relief, and it saved me. Emotionally, that’s how I dealt with life,” she said. “It’s the same thing with Taylor. That doesn’t change. It’s not like you get old and stop feeling emotions.”

Similarly, Sara ReinerThe 33-year-old has been following Swift’s career since the now 34-year-old singer was 17, although she only recently contracted Taylor fever.

“Although I identify with Taylor in terms of age, I can see myself being a senior Swiftie, i.e. the new generation [of fans] now discovering it,” Reiner told Yahoo Entertainment. “When I went to your ‘Eras ​​Tour’, I saw people of all ages – from 50-year-olds to 4-year-olds who just wanted to exchange bracelets. There’s probably at least one song that everyone can relate to, whether they recognize it or not.”

“She conveys a pseudo-personal message to fans through her music,” Ely said. “When was there a time when someone could be so much, anywhere?”