Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. She is known for narrative songs about her personal life, which have received widespread media coverage. At age 14, Swift became the youngest artist signed by the Sony/ATV Music publishing house and, at 15, she signed her first record deal.
Her 2006 eponymous debut album was the longest-charting album of the 2000s in the US. Its third single, "Our Song", made her the youngest person to single-handedly write and perform a number-one song on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. Swift's second album, Fearless, was released in 2008.
Buoyed by the pop crossover success of the singles "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me", it became the US' best-selling album of 2009 and was certified diamond in the US. The album won four Grammy Awards, and Swift became the youngest Album of the Year winner.
'Mate, you don't need to do this': Brother of Texas hostage taker begs him 'think about your kids' in final phone call
manchestereveningnews.co.ukThe British gunman who took hostages at a synagogue in Texas was urged by his brother to surrender in their final phone call, it was reported today.
Malik Faisal Akram, 44, from Blackburn, held four hostages at the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, US, on Sunday.
All four were released without being hurt, but he was shot and killed by FBI after a 10-hour siege. READ MORE: Counter-terror police have made arrests in Manchester in connection with an ongoing investigation.
A recording of the telephone conversation was obtained by the Jewish Chronicle. In it, the Chronicle reports Akram tells his brother he wanted to 'kiss my last goodbye to you' - and adds: "I've come to die." He also makes references to 'martyrdom' and says he will go 'toe-to-toe' with armed police who were at the scene.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk
