HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) 鈥� She鈥檚 Time magazine's . She鈥檚 the globally on Spotify. She鈥檚 helmed the first tour to gross more than and then the highest-grossing concert film of all time. And now Taylor Swift can add one more accolade: A state House of Representatives is recognizing 2023 as the Taylor Swift era in her home state of Pennsylvania.
Lawmakers approved the resolution on Swift's 34th birthday. The Associated Press has reached out to see if Swift was impressed with her birthday gift.
Pennsylvania (Taylor鈥檚 Version) has benefited from her Midas touch over the past year, sponsors say. The frenzy for tickets to her tour prompted legislative action in the state 鈥� and , albeit slowly 鈥� to address Ticketmaster鈥檚 shortcomings. Swift buoyed the local economy on her tour stops in and Pittsburgh, and donated proceeds to hunger relief organizations as she blazed through.
Nationally, she鈥檚 encouraged thousands of people to register to vote, particularly young people.
The pure heft of the Pennsylvania native turned Miss Americana has displayed musically, culturally and economically over the past year prompted the resolution.
While the resolution had its naysayers, it passed 103-100. Speaker Rep. Joanna McClinton, a Democrat from Philadelphia County, jested, 鈥淗aters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate" 鈥� echoing the lyrics of Swift's track 鈥淪hake It Off." Most Republicans voted against the measure, as did a few Democrats.
She has 鈥渢ranscended the role of pop star," the resolution said. The resolution recognizes her accomplishments throughout the past year, saying she 鈥渟hines as a role model of courage, self acceptance and self-determination, persisting in the face of personal and professional obstacles and challenges.鈥�
Swift grew up near West Reading, in Berks County, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. Part of her childhood was spent growing up on a Christmas tree farm, 鈥渨here every wish comes true,鈥� she sings in 鈥淐hristmas Tree Farm.鈥�
Though she left Pennsylvania for Nashville to begin her music career as a teenager, she's had other nods to the Commonwealth in her songs ("gold rush," and 鈥渟even,鈥� were surprise songs at her Pennsylvania stops on tour.) And her home state hasn't forgotten her. A mural commemorating the artist's youth was posted in her hometown this summer, claiming her as 鈥淩eading's own.鈥�
Democratic Rep. Maureen Madden of Monroe County was an enthusiastic supporter of the measure and voiced appreciation for how Swift has pushed young people to become politically active.
鈥淚 turn 64 years old today, and I think about who鈥檚 going to carry on our legacy. She鈥檚 not popular because she writes break-up songs,鈥� Madden said on the House floor. 鈥淪he鈥檚 popular because the largest demographic of people eligible to vote, the 18- to 24-year-old demographic, listens to her and does what she says.鈥�
Swift鈥檚 impact as a woman, and on young women specifically, can鈥檛 be understated, lawmakers said.
The resolution recognized her 鈥渟ingular economic and cultural influence鈥� as demonstrating 鈥渢he power of female agency, feminine ideas, feminine art and a distinctly feminine narrative."
It comes at a time where women have broken a number of glass ceilings in local politics, Democratic Rep. Jennifer O鈥橫ara of Delaware County, said in a committee hearing for the resolution on Tuesday.
The first woman was elected to serve as mayor of the nation鈥檚 sixth largest city, , as voters across the state chose the first woman to be Allegheny鈥檚 county executive. Women, for the first time in the Legislature, are serving as in the Senate and as .
鈥�2023 is the year for women in many ways,鈥� O鈥橫ara said. 鈥淎nd I urge you to help us make it Taylor Swift era here in Pennsylvania.鈥�
鈥淎t first I was thinking, like, why?鈥� Democratic Rep. Tarah Probst of Monroe County, said Tuesday. 鈥淏ut then you鈥檙e right 鈥� the year of women. As you know, women鈥檚 rights are being taken away left and right and by doing this, we鈥檙e empowering women in general.鈥�
Brooke Schultz, The Associated Press
