Taylor Swift

Country singer Taylor Swift broke through in 2006 with her hit song "Tim McGraw," recorded when she was still 16 years old. From just outside of Reading, Pennsylvania, Swift began singing at local events when she was a kid, including a gig singing the national anthem at a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game when she was 11. To pursue her career in country music, Swift and her family moved near Nashville, Tennessee when she was 13. Her beauty pageant looks and surprisingly seasoned country vocal style made her a star on Country Music Television, and her video -- a wistful ballad of romantic longing ("When you think Tim McGraw / I hope you think of me") -- was voted a fan favorite. She released her self-titled debut album in late 2006 and quickly became a star singer and songwriter. Swift was nominated in 2007 by the Academy of Country Music as best new female vocalist, and before she was even 18 she was touring nationally with top stars such as Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts. By 2008 she'd been Grammy-nominated and her album had produced the hits "Our Song" and "A Place in This World."