'Extremely proud' Paul O'Grady presented Taylor Swift with 'UK first'

Thousands of people will descend on Anfield stadium next week as global superstar Taylor Swift brings her critically-acclaimed Eras tour to Liverpool.

The 14-time Grammy Award winner confirmed last year she would be coming to the city, as well as London, Edinburgh and Cardiff this summer and plans are already underway to make the most of her arrival in Liverpool. Taylor will perform at Anfield on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 13, 14, and 15 and dedicated fans, known as Swifties, have been planning for months, from making friendship bracelets to trade with other concert-goers to finding the perfect outfit for their chosen album era.

The Eras Tour is a culmination of Taylor's entire musical career, with different sections of the concert representing each album. And a lot has happened since the early days of her career and first becoming known in the UK.

READ MORE: Order 'Taylor Swift' Collector's Edition magazine now!

READ MORE: First look at Taylor Swift trail in city centre ahead of Eras Tour arrival

Back in May 2009, Taylor Swift appeared on the Paul O'Grady show to perform hit song Tear Drops On My Guitar, as the tour for her latest album, Fearless, got underway. Speaking to the late Merseyside legend, 15-years-ago Taylor spoke of her musical influences and career so far.

Clips from the show are still available on YouTube and ahead of her Anfield gig, we revisited the interview. After performing, a then 19-year-old Taylor, wearing a t-shirt and grey pleated skirt, was greeted by Paul and also bought the host some gifts.

In one of her earliest UK television interviews, she said: "It's so good to be here, I bought you some presents because I'm so happy that you’re having me - it’s awesome. These are for Buster.

Paul replied: "Look at this - dog biscuits from a very posh shop. Taylor he's spoilt as it is. That's so sweet of you, thankyou very much." Taylor also bought Paul's loveable shih tzu Buster a new collar that read "hug me, I'm famous."

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Discussing Taylor's hit songs Tear Drops On My Guitar and Love Story, Paul also later compared the star to one of his favourite artists and Taylor's musical influences. Paul said: "I’m a Dolly fan, you couldn't not be a Dolly fan.

"How could anybody not like Dolly Parton, she's wonderful, she really is. You’re like her because you’re a singing storyteller - your songs tell a story. That’s why I like country songs because you have a beginning a middle and an end - they’re lovely."

When asked if Taylor always knew if she wanted to sing, the star said: "When I was younger, I thought I'm going to be a stockbroker cause that's what my dad does. But then I found what I love to do and I feel so lucky to have found that at such a young age because music has been what's fascinated me since I was a little kid."

In the interview, Taylor also shared how music and performing runs in the family. She said: "My grandparents on both my mom and dad's side were performers. On my dad's side, his parents they wrote songs and played piano and stuff and my mom's mom was an opera singer.

"My parents kind of grew up with music shoved down their throats and kind of ran as far away from music as they could cause their parents were so obsessed with it. And then I came along and they had to deal with it all again."

The interview on the Paul O'Grady show was also a huge milestone for the singer and her career at the time, as she received a major award, something Paul was "extremely proud" to present.

On the show, Paul said: "Your album, Fearless, has been selling like hotcakes here in the UK. It’s done more than well and I'm extremely proud to present you with your first UK Gold Disc."

Taylor responded, "oh my god, thank you, thank you so much," and Paul replied, "I'm delighted, absolutely delighted. Congratulations and it's well deserved."

Thousands of people will descend on Anfield stadium next week as Taylor Swift brings her critically-acclaimed Eras tour to Liverpool. The global superstar confirmed last year she would be coming to the city on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, June 13, 14, and 15.

Liverpool's Taylor Town Trail has also been unveiled in the city centre. The team that helped deliver Eurovision has created a unique Instagrammable experience based around 11 art installations to entertain the 150,000 plus Swifties who’ll be travelling to the city from across the world. From a 7ft high butterfly, a moss-covered baby grand piano, two impressive murals, a floral swing bench and a red room, the city is turning itself into a week-long Swiftie paradise to enjoy and explore.

The trail will run from Saturday, June 8 to Sunday, June 16. Find the details for Taylor Town Trail here. Alongside the trail, a series of ticketed craft workshops - called Liverpool Loves Taylor (Craft Version) - will take place at Metquarter Liverpool.

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