Throwback: Remember When Taylor Swift Played Bethel Woods?

It should come as no surprise the 2023 TIME Person of The Year title was given to none other than Taylor Swift.

You couldn't turn your head without seeing her face or hearing her name. Swifties have loved every minute it of the 2023 Swift world, others are less than thrilled. Either way it doesn't change the fact that Swift has accomplished so much in just 365 days.

Taylor Swift 2023 Person of The Year Goes Back to Her Roots

I skimmed through the TIME Magazine article dedicated to Taylor Swift and was a little surprised that the first artist mentioned was country star Kenny Chesney. In the interview, Swift goes on to tell the story about how she signed on to be an opening act for Kenny Chesney's tour at 17 years old.

However, the tour was later sponsored by a beer brand and since she was underage, she could no longer be tied to the tour. Swift says she was devastated But on her 18th birthday, Kenny Chesney made it up to her with a card and note. The interview explains further:

But some months later, at Swift’s 18th birthday party, she saw Chesney’s promoter. He handed her a card from Chesney that read, as Swift recalls, “I’m sorry that you couldn’t come on the tour, so I wanted to make it up to you.” With the note was a check. “It was for more money than I’d ever seen in my life,” Swift says. “I was able to pay my band bonuses. I was able to pay for my tour buses. I was able to fuel my dreams.”

Those dreams took her to places she'd never been before. Like Bethel Woods!

From Opening Act at Bethel Woods to Superstardom

Not being able to tour with Kenny Chesney must have been a huge bummer. But as they say when one door closes another opens.  That door opened to many other opportunities like opening up for Rascal Flatts, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and George Strait from 2006 until 2009 when she headlined her very own Fearless Tour.

In 2007 one of those opening act gigs landed her right here in the Hudson Valley. Swift opened up for Brad Paisley's Bonfire and Amplifiers Tour along with Jack Ingram and Kellie Pickler.

Bethel Woods Center for The Arts shared a photo of Taylor from the Bethel Woods pavilion stage with a congratulatory message:

According to Taylor Swift Wiki, she performed a cover of Eminem's "Lose Yourself" along with her hits Our Song, Permanent Marker, Teardrops on My Guitar, Should've Said No, Tim McGraw, and Picture to Burn.

Pretty cool memory, right? Who knows. Maybe Taylor will start playing more intimate shows and bring a full headlining tour to Bethel Woods. A Swiftie can dream...

From an opening act to headlining the most popular tour this year. See below photos from the opening night of The Eras Tour in Arizona last spring.

Swift started her career in the country music world and navigated her way to popstar stardom. That said, she has never forgotten where she came from and has collaborated with some of the biggest names in country music in the past.