Pennsylvania declares 2023 as the 'Taylor Swift Era'
Taylor Swift's home state, Pennsylvania, is celebrating the pop star for her achievements this year.
Pennsylvania has officially declared 2023 as the “Taylor Swift Era.” The announcement was approved by lawmakers last Wednesday, which happened to be the global pop sensation's 34th birthday.
Swift’s home state has benefited from her over the past year. The surge in demand for tickets to her tour prompted legislative action both within the state and across the entire United States to tackle the shortcomings of ticket marketplace Ticketmaster. Swift also further uplifted the local economy on her tour stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and donated proceeds to hunger relief organizations.
While the resolution faces some opposition, it passed the senate’s vote to a close 103-100, recognizing that the singer “[transcends] beyond the role of pop star.” Nationally, her Instagram post encouraging young people to vote helped drive a surge in voter registration.
Recognizing Swift's remarkable accomplishments in 2023, including her prestigious title as TIME's Person of the Year, the resolution praises her, saying she “shines as a role model of courage, self-acceptance, and self-determination, persisting in the face of personal and professional obstacles and challenges.”
Swift spent most of her childhood on an 11-acre Christmas tree farm in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Although she left the state in her teenage years to pursue her musical aspirations in Nashville, she has consistently incorporated references to her home state in songs like Gold Rush, Seven, and Christmas Tree Farm.
Nashville, Swift's current residence, warmly received her during the Eras Tour with an official proclamation from the Mayor's office, designating it as a "Taylor Swift homecoming weekend." Adding to the tribute, the city installed a park bench in Centennial Park, a charming reference to her song Invisible String from the 2020 album folklore.
In celebration of her birthday, Taylor Swift hosted a star-studded party in New York City with Gigi Hadid, Blake Lively, Jack Antonoff, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Este Haim, Alana Haim, Zoë Kravitz, Antoni Porowski, and other notable figures in attendance.
"Can’t believe this year… actually… happened? Thank you for all your beautiful birthday wishes yesterday," Swift said in an Instagram post as she reflected on her myriad of achievements in 2023, including the successful launch of the Eras Tour, setting records with its theatrical film, and unveiling both Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version), among other accomplishments.