Este Haim, Taylor Swift, Danielle Haim & Alana Haim performing on the Eras Tour in July.Photo:Jeff Kravitz/TAS23/Getty
Jeff Kravitz/TAS23/Getty
It’s nice to have a superstar friend.
Taylor Swifttops PEOPLE’s 2023Most Intriguing People of the Yearlist, and in this week’s cover story, the Grammy winner’s friends, collaborators and tour openers share what she’s like offstage and out of the spotlight.
Swift known the rock actHaim— composed of sisters Este, 37, Danielle, 34, and Alana Haim, 31, who collaborated with her on “No Body, No Crime” in 2020 — for nearly a decade.
“She’s incredibly prolific,” says Danielle. “Every time we all get together, we get so excited because we know she’s going to play us something new and groundbreaking. Her heart is always open, and you can hear it in her songs.”
Taylor Swifth and Haim performing together in Seattle in July 2023.Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty
Mat Hayward/TAS23/Getty
And despite her breakneck schedule, Swift always shows up.
“She has always put her friends before herself in every situation,” Alana says. “She’s the kind of friend that checks up on us for weeks after a tough breakup and is a shoulder to lean on.”
Indeed, Swift met her longtime friendHayley Williams, frontwoman ofParamore, when they were both up for the best new artist Grammy in 2008.
PEOPLE’s 2023 Most Intriguing People of the Year cover, featuring Taylor Swift.Peggy Sirota/Trunk Archive
Peggy Sirota/Trunk Archive
“Not long after we became friends, she knew I felt awkward going to my ex’s wedding, so she tagged along with me, made it fun, and then we ditched the reception to go to the Cheesecake Factory,” Williams, 34, recalls.
And Swift remains a supportive pal to this day.
“She recently called when I was going through a rough time, just to listen and crack jokes and give me solid advice that of course sounded like perfectly formed lyrics," says Williams, who adds: “She’s funny as s— and so fun.”
Taylor Swift and Hayley Williams perform in Nashville in September 2011.Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
Frederick Breedon IV/WireImage
Over the years, Swift has also blazed a path for the next generation of female artists. She personally asked singer-songwriter Girl in Red (born Marie Ringheim), 24, to open for her on her record-smashing Eras Tour.
“She reached out to me out of the blue and wrote a paragraph of kind things about my album. I was totally blown away, and it meant so much to me,” says Girl in Red, who adds, “I’ve started implementing a ‘What would Taylor do?’ mentality to everything. It sounds silly, but it truly makes me push myself to be better.”
John Shearer/Getty Images
Says openerSabrina Carpenter, 24: “Since I was a little girl, I’ve really looked up to how fearless and how smart she is. As a performer, I look up to how she’s able to connect with every single person in the crowd, like she’s singing to them personally.”
And she looks out for her opening acts, too. In July, Swift had to move up the start time of a Cincinnati concert due to inclement weather, which meant cutting openerGracie Abrams' set that night.
Within two minutes “Taylor texted me being like, ‘The weather sucks, but can we sing “I Miss You, I’m Sorry” during my acoustic set?’ ” recalls singer-songwriter Abrams, 24, of Swift’s inviting her to perform together later in the show. “I hard-core blacked out due to the sheer disbelief of the moment. It was the best time of my life. [She’s the] most generous friend and mentor.”
Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams perform in Cincinnati in July 2023.TAS2023/Getty
TAS2023/Getty
Swift often collaborates with her friends, too. Haim opened for her on select dates of the Eras Tour — and joined her onstage toperform “No Body, No Crime.”
“Playing the Eras Tour with Taylor and performing ‘No Body, No Crime’ with her every night was one of the most exhilarating things we’ve ever had the opportunity to experience,” Este says. “It really felt like a dream. Not only was she so incredibly welcoming onstage, but her fans embraced us and sang every word.”
Friend and collaboratorMaren Morrisjoined Swift onstageto performtheirFearless (Taylor’s Version)vault track “You All Over Me"at a Chicago Eras Tour stop over the summer.
“She’s obliterated the bar,” Morris, 33, says. “The sheer scale of her stadium tours … it’s half inspiring and half terrifying!”
Maren Morris and Taylor Swift in Los Angeles in March 2019.Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for iHeartMedia
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for iHeartMedia
Above all, Williams says, Swift is “forever an artist’s artist.” The pals recorded theSpeak Now (Taylor’s Version)vault track “Castles Crumbling” together — though Swift first had other plans.
Swift hasworked closely with music producerAaron Dessner, 47, since collaborating on her pandemic projectsFolkloreandEvermore,who says, “She’s legitimately just a very down to earth and hardworking person” in the time that he’s known her.
“She is an absolute genius,” Dessner adds, “and thankfully also a truly wonderful human being.”
For more from Taylor Swift’s friends and collaborators, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday.
Daniela Avila
andRachel DeSantis
Rachel DeSantis
source: people.com
