“The [TIME Person of the Year] has typically been a ruler over traditional domains of power” claims Sam Jacobs, editor-in-chief of TIME. Frequently a powerful politician or business magnate…But the one whose unique impact became clear during 2023 has never done any of these things, or even something like. Much of what Swift achieved in 2023 is incalculable. She documented her steps and made them public; she vowed to give voice to those who, like her, had been ignored or undervalued, particularly women.
According to Jacobs, “For building a world of her own that made a place for so many, for spinning her story into a global legend, for bringing joy to a society desperately in need of it, Taylor Swift is TIME’s 2023 Person of the Year.”
Thanks to her achievements in the entertainment industry, Swift has become the first person from the arts to be chosen Person of the Year.
“This was the year she perfected her craft—not just with her music, but in her position as the master storyteller of the modern era,” writes TIME’s Sam Lansky in the cover story, which features an exclusive interview with Swift—her first in-depth chat in nearly four years. In response, people all around the globe marveled, wept, danced, sang along, fawned, and even caravanned to arenas and movie theaters to hear her music.
Taylor Swift says TIME, “I’ve been raised up and down the flagpole of public opinion so many times in the last 20 years… “in reference to her career taking a few hits.Someone gave me a tiara, and then they took it away from me.
It feels like the turning point in my career, happening at 33 years of age,” she said of her 2023 year.And I felt mentally prepared to handle whatever it entailed for the first time ever…This has been the most liberating and creatively satisfying experience of my life, and I have never felt more proud or happy than I do right now.
“I would run on the treadmill every day, singing the entire set list out loud…,” the artist said about their preparation for The Eras Tour.Quick for upbeat music, jogging or walking quickly for slower tunes…I wanted to really commit it to my bones, so I trained for three months to dance.I aimed to be so well-rehearsed that I could act ridiculously for the audience without fumbling for words.
“Nothing is permanent…,” the famous said of fame as a seesaw.Because I’ve had this opportunity taken away from me before, I make sure to appreciate every moment that I get to perform it at this level. My reaction to everything—good or bad—is to keep making stuff. That’s the one thing I’ve learnt. Never stop creating.
Regarding being famous: “I’ve learned over the years that I don’t have the time or bandwidth to get pressed about things that don’t matter.” There will be mayhem outside the restaurant if I dine there, that much is certain. A supper out with my buddies is still on my agenda, though.Life is fleeting. Embark on journeys. The many years I spent alone in my house—time that will never be returned. My level of trust has increased over the past six years.
Person of the Year is a way for TIME to honor the person or persons who had a significant impact on the globe that year, as part of their aim to share the stories of the most influential people and ideas in the world. Jessica Sibley, CEO of TIME, expressed her joy at the announcement that Grammy-winning artist Taylor Swift would be honored as the magazine’s Person of the Year. Swift had an incredible year and exemplifies the power of influence on a worldwide scale. “We look forward to celebrating leadership and impact in 2023 at our ‘A Year in TIME’ celebration with leaders and visionaries from the TIME community and our partners at American Family Insurance, Smartsheet, The Macallan and Ally.”
You can buy all three cover editions right now on Time.com and through our new relationship with Flowcode. The 2023 TIME Person of the Year issue will be sent to subscribers who order their subscriptions by December 31st. When the issue hits newsstands on Friday, December 15, you can buy a copy. You may now purchase several reproductions of the People of the Year cover at TIME’s Cover Store.
Andrea Parker is a reporter for Zobuz. She previously worked at Huffington Post and Vanity Fair. Andrea is based in NYC and covers issues affecting her city. In addition to her severe coffee addiction, she’s a Netflix enthusiast, a red wine drinker, and a voracious reader.
