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I was born on December 13, 1989, the only daughter of Andrea Gardner (née Finlay), a homemaker, and Scott Kingsley Swift, a stockbroker. I was born and raised in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. My maternal grandmother, Majorie Finlay, was an opera singer. I have a younger brother, Austin.
When I was in fourth grade, I won a national poetry contest with a three-page poem entitled “Monster In My Closet”. When I was 10, a computer repairman showed me how to play three chords on a guitar, sparking my interest in learning the instrument. Afterwards, I wrote her first song, “Lucky You”. I began writing songs regularly and used it as an outlet to help me with my pain from not fitting in at school. I was a victim of bullying, and often wrote songs to express my emotions. I also started performing at karaoke contests, festivals, and fairs around my hometown. When I was 12, I devoted an entire summer to writing a 350-page novel, which remains unpublished. My first major show was a well-received performance at the Bloomsburg Fair. I attended Hendersonville High School but was subsequently homeschooled for my junior and senior years. In 2008, I earned my high-school diploma.
My greatest musical influence is Shania Twain. My other influences include LeAnn Rimes, Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, and my grandmother. Although my grandmother was a professional opera singer, my tastes always leaned more toward country music. In my younger years, I developed a love for Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton. I also credit the Dixie Chicks for demonstrating the impact you can make by “stretching boundaries”.