Taylor Swift has spent the past week breaking Spotify records with her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department. Two of her former teachers are also celebrating the album's incredible success.
Barbara Kolvek and Heather Brown both taught Swift during her elementary school years at Wyndcroft School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Swift moved to Nashville at age 14 to pursue a career in music.
Kolvek, a music teacher, taught the singer between first and fourth grade. She has since retired. An apt descriptor for an artist boasting "poet" in her album title, Kolvek detailed that Swift "always was writing poetry, always. Even in music class, even when she shouldn't."
The Tortured Poets Department leans heavily into poetry and literature, with Swift referencing Patti Smith, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Emily Dickinson, among others.
Kolvek also claims to have given the "Cruel Summer" singer her very first singing solo, "'Fast Talk Freddie,' I believe it was called."
The former teacher keeps Swift close to her heart by keeping memorabilia given to her. Gifts include a stuffed snowman and t-shirt signed by the star. She reflected on her relationship with Swift, explaining that the two remained in contact via email for a period of time.
Kolvek is proud of Swift, and hopes that she may have contributed to the singer's passion for creating music. "I feel like maybe I gave her a little spark or encouragement to do what she was doing," she said.
Brown, meanwhile, taught Swift in her third grade year--which was also Brown's first class. She divulged that she still sends the singer a Christmas card "every year."
"I still write her notes and congratulate her," she said.
Brown is unsure of whether Swift is actually receiving the messages, but continues to support and celebrate her former student. She explained that every student has a "special quality" and that teachers remember each student's unique quality.
"Taylor's quality was just being. She was one of those students where people just drew to," Brown said.
Brown's son, Ethan, sported an iron t-shirt customized with a photo of himself and Swift at a Phillies game in 2007. He was four years old in the photo; she was a teenager. After snapping the picture, Swift sang the national anthem.
Kolvek and Brown are immensely proud of their former pupil. Brown described the experience of seeing the packed, enthusiastic stadiums of the Eras Tour, "it's like, oh my gosh, like I was her teacher!"
Kolvek echoed Brown's sentiments, revealing that she is proud of Swift and that she's "never lost her focus and she's never lost the real person that she is." Kolvek commended the star for having always been "very honest and open."
Brown summarized Swift's massive presence with adamant support, saying that "Everything she touches turns to gold."
Her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department arrived in two pieces: an original record and The Anthology. These 31 new Swift tracks have taken over the internet, airwaves and music publications.
