You can’t shake this off: Taylor Swift is Time’s person of the year.
The pop star topped several other prominent contenders previously announced by the publication, from tech titan Sam Altman to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Even Barbie was on the shortlist.
But Swift, who was also recently named to the MarketWatch 50 list of financial movers and shakers, stood out for a number of reasons, according to Time.
Primarily, she was a positive force in a world rocked by so much negative news in the past year, said Time editor editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs.
“We picked a choice of someone who represents joy,” Jacobs said in an appearance Wednesday morning on NBC’s “Today Show.”
Swift’s “Eras Tour” proved to be one of the biggest events in pop history. Not only did the star sell out show after show, but her fans traveled throughout the country to attend the concerts. In all, it’s estimated that Swiftie spending tied to the tour reached $5 billion, with businesses large and small benefitting.
And that’s on top of Swift’s continued success on the pop charts, with her release of two albums, “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” and “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”
Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has also been a buzzy story — and a financial boon for the National Football League.
Swift’s impact will likely extend far beyond 2023, of course. Her touring will continue in 2024. And as veteran music journalist Holly Gleason told MarketWatch, Swift is serving as an inspiration to a generation of young women.
“Whether you’re a little girl who wants to start a business or write a song or publish a book … whatever it is you want to do, she’s the role model that says, ‘Hell, yeah,’” Gleason said.
