Get to Know Taylor Swift's Parents, Scott and Andrea Swift
Taylor Swift's meteoric rise to superstardom didn't happen in a vacuum. Behind the scenes, her parents Scott and Andrea Swift have been her biggest supporters from the very beginning, encouraging their daughter's musical talents since she was just a little girl singing karaoke. And they've been there every step of the way since, standing by Taylor's side as she's become one of the world's biggest pop stars.
Keep reading for a guide to Scott and Andrea Swift, Taylor’s parents and her No. 1 cheer section.
Related: Taylor Swift's Dating and Relationship History—and the Songs Each Lucky Guy Inspired
Who are Taylor Swift's parents?
Taylor Swift was born Dec. 13, 1989 to Scott and Andrea Swift. The couple was married for just about a year when they welcomed their oldest child, setting down roots in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Not long after, they expanded their family to include son Austin, who arrived March 11, 1992.
The Swifts lived on a 15-acre Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania until Taylor's career aspirations whisked them away to the suburbs of Nashville, where the star-to-be landed her first major record deal with Sony at the age of 14.
What did Taylor Swift's father Scott Swift do for a living?
Scott was a stockbroker who eventually became a vice president at the wealth management company Merrill Lynch (cha-ching!). He moved his financial advisory business, The Swift Group, to Nashville when the family relocated there to support Taylor's budding music career.
Does Taylor's dad work for her?
It’s unclear whether Taylor's dad works for her in any official capacity, but true to his business roots, he's certainly made investments (and money) off his daughter's career over the years. Most notably, he was a minority shareholder in Big Machine Records, the label that launched Taylor's career and infamously sold her catalogue to Scooter Braun in 2019, launching an era of Taylor's Versions.
Related: Everything to Know About Taylor Swift Re-Recording Her Old Albums
Did Taylor Swift's dad make money from Scooter Braun?
Because Taylor's father was a minority shareholder in Big Machine Records, he profited when the label sold his daughter's catalogue to Scooter Braun for $300 million, reportedly to the tune of of $15 million.
Scott Swift's apparent windfall called into question whether Taylor was really as blindsided by the deal as she claimed to have been. "For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work," Swift posted on social media after the sale. "Instead I was given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and ‘earn’ one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in. I walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future."
According to the pop star, she learned of the sale in the news, just like everyone else. "All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at [Braun's] hands for years," she wrote in her statement.
But, again, the fact that her father was a shareholder who stood to make millions off the deal led skeptics to wonder whether Taylor knew about the impending deal. According to her team, the answer was no.
As her rep explained (via ET), Scott Swift didn't have knowledge of the deal before it happened because he purposely skipped the shareholder meeting at which it was discussed. "There was a shareholder phone call that Scott Swift did not participate in due to a very strict NDA that bound all shareholders and prohibited any discussion at all without risk of severe penalty," Swift's rep said. "Her dad did not join that call because he did not want to be required to withhold any information from his own daughter."
Borschetta has maintained that Swift knew about the deal before it landed in the news cycle.
Related: Taylor Swift Trivia Questions and Answers
Are Taylor Swift's parents still together?
No. After more than 20 years of marriage, Swift's parents divorced sometime around 2011. The family has not publicly commented on the split, but the exes seem to be on good terms as they stand united by their daughter's side and make frequent appearances on her Eras Tour.
What happened to Taylor Swift's mom?
Taylor's mom Andrea has faced some serious health challenges. In 2015, Taylor revealed that Andrea had been diagnosed with cancer, though she kept the details of the condition and treatment private. In 2019, Taylor shared that Andrea's cancer had returned, and the following year she revealed that Andrea had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
On her album Lover, Taylor wrote the song "Soon You'll Get Better" about her mom's fight with cancer. Sample lyric: "And I hate to make this all about me / But who am I supposed to talk to? / What am I supposed to do / If there's no you?"
When did Andrea Swift get diagnosed with cancer?
Taylor first revealed her mom's cancer diagnosis in a 2015 Tumblr post..
"I'm writing to you with an update I wish I wasn't giving you, but it's important and I'm used to sharing important events in my life with you," Taylor wrote. "Usually when things happen to me, I process them and then write music about how I feel, and you hear it much later. This is something my family and I thought you should know about now." She went on to explain that during a routine check-up which she'd encouraged her mom to get, doctors discovered Andrea had cancer.
"I'd like to keep the details of her condition and treatment plans private, but she wanted you to know," she added. "She wanted you to know why she may not be at as many shows this tour. She's got an important battle to fight."
In 2019, when Andrea’s cancer had returned, Taylor wrote in a personal essay for ELLE: "It's taught me that there are real problems and then there's everything else. My mom's cancer is a real problem. I used to be so anxious about daily ups and downs," she wrote, before adding: "I give all of my worry, stress and prayers to real problems now."
The following year, Andrea was diagnosed with a brain tumor, and Taylor spoke to Variety about it. "Everyone loves their mom; everyone's got an important mom," she said. "But for me, she's really the guiding force. Almost every decision I make, I talk to her about it first. So obviously it was a really big deal to ever speak about her illness."
She also said that "the symptoms of what a person goes through when they have a brain tumor is nothing like what we've ever been through with her cancer before."
Is Taylor Swift's mom in remission?
The available information does not indicate whether Andrea Swift is currently in remission from her cancer. Taylor has kept many of the details around her mom's health private.
Does Taylor Swift have a relationship with her parents?
Absolutely. Taylor has been incredibly close with both of her parents throughout her life and career. She has credited them for supporting her dreams from a young age and has frequently honored them in her music and acceptance speeches.
In a 2009 MySpace post, Taylor shared: “My dad is along the ride for this trip. He’s a social butterfly, and loves being on tour. He loves it so much, he thinks it’s absolutely hilarious to embarrass me as much as possible.”
She continued: “For example, [I’m] walking into the hotel lobby after returning from dinner. It’s quiet, serene, beautiful when...Screaming voice from out of nowhere: ‘HEY! THAT’S TAYLOR SWIFT!!’ Me: ‘Dad. Please stop doing that.’”
And the close relationships continue to this day. Along the way on her Eras tour, Taylor even made her parents special backstage passes, including one that read: "D.O.H. Pass (Dad of Headliner). All-Access."
Does Taylor Swift take care of her parents?
It’s unknown if Taylor financially supports or directly cares for her parents. However, given their close relationship, it would not be surprising if Taylor helped care for her parents, especially as Andrea has faced health challenges.
Where did Taylor Swift's parents raise her?
Taylor grew up on a 15-acre Christmas tree farm in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania before her family eventually moved to the suburbs of Nashville when she was a teenager to be closer to the country music industry.
