It's safe to say that, in 2024, most of the world knows who Taylor Swift is.
However, not so many fans of the superstar can boast that they discovered her and her songwriting skills before practically anyone was familiar with her name.
Kelly Morris, from Arlington, Texas, is one of those lucky few. Speaking to the Fort Worth-Star Telegram, she related her story about how a chance encounter with a then 16-year-old Swift changed her life forever and made her a Swiftie -- before the word "Swiftie" was even a thing!
Morris explained that in 2006, just right after the release of Swift's debut album, she'd heard of an early morning concert to be held at Arlington High School in the gymnasium. Despite not being a morning person, she decided to get up and check the show out.
Morris, a freshman at the time, said that she had heard of Swift--"I knew who she was"--but didn't know much otherwise about the singer and didn't consider herself a fan at the time.
"I was like, 'I guess I'll go see this girl'," Morris told the outlet. "Which is hilarious to me now, because I'm actually still a really big fan and would do anything I could to see her."
The show was hosted by a local radio station as part of a contest, and the high school had texted in order to try and secure the performance. Morris recalls that she didn't think it would actually happen -- and she certainly had no idea she was getting to witness a show from who would become one of the biggest global superstars in history.
At the early morning gig, Swift played several songs from her first album, including "Teardrops on my Guitar" and "Tim McGraw."
"She was really personable," Morris said. "She's just open like how she kind of always has been and that's what endeared her to me."
A post on the Arlington High School Facebook account recalls the show, offering a picture of the teenage star-in-training singing in the gym.
Now, close to two decades later, Morris admits that the chance encounter with Swift's pre-fame music set her on an enthusiastic Swiftie path for life.
She says she has seen Swift on every one of her solo tours, for a total of 14 times in all, and went to all three of Swift's Eras Tour dates at Arlington's AT&T Stadium.
"I'm probably always going to be right in it with her," Morris noted, adding that she is "just obsessed with everything she puts out."
