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Taylor Swift’s Self-Titled Debut Album Is 10 Years Old: A Look Back at How Far She’s Come

It’s hard to believe that Taylor Swift‘s self-titled debut album turned 10 years old on Monday, October 24. At the time of the record’s 2006 release, Instagram and Snapchat didn’t exist, Keeping Up With the Kardashians wasn’t a thing and an unknown DJ named Calvin Harris was still recording his first album.

When Swift first introduced herself to the music scene, she was a curly-blonde-haired, acoustic-guitar-toting, 16-year-old country singer and songwriter. The Pennsylvania native immediately wowed listeners as she shared diary-like confessions in the form of songs, all of which she penned during her freshman year of high school. (Swift’s family even relocated to Nashville when she was 11 years old so that she could pursue her dreams!)

Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift

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From the start, the country LP proved to be a success. First single “Tim McGraw” reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart; second single “Teardrops on My Guitar” peaked at No. 13 on the Hot 100; and third single “Picture to Burn” shot up to the top spot on the Hot Country Songs chart.

The former child prodigy, now 26, promoted the smash-success album as the opening act for the tours of many of her country music idols, including Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts.

Taylor Swift was also a success at awards shows — a feat that foreshadowed the singer-songwriter’s many wins to come. In 2007, she took home the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“Tim McGraw”) as well as the Horizon Award at the Country Music Association Awards.

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Nowadays, Swift is widely known as one of the most successful artists of all time. Her narrative tunes about her much-publicized relationships — and breakups — are all over the radio, while her 1989 World Tour recently became one of the highest-grossing shows of all time. She has also veered away from country with more pop hits.

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Through it all, the 10-time Grammy winner hasn’t forgotten her roots. In honor of Taylor Swift‘s 10th anniversary, she shared an adorable throwback photo on Instagram of herself playing the guitar.

“10 years ago today, my first album came out,” Swift wrote on Monday afternoon. “I couldn’t be more grateful today, thinking back on how much fun we’ve had and how you’ve encouraged me to change and grow. It’s been such an adventure, guys. Thank you for all of it.”

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