Despite her present pop superstar status, Taylor Swift hasn’t completely checked out of the country music space where she started. Earlier today, vocal group Little Big Town revealed the surprising news that their new single “Better Man” was actually written by Swift.
Previously, the group had only said the “Better Man” was from “a young girl in Nashville who wrote it by herself,” according to Fairchild, and that it was the first time Swift had ever pitched anyone else a song. They elected not to immediately announce it as a Swift composition, fearing that would influence fans’ perceptions of the song.
“We didn’t want you to have any subtext there other than to hear the song,” Fairchild said during a press conference at the Ryman Auditorium with band mates Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet.
Fairchild went on to say that Swift thought of the decision to let the song stand on its own merits as “the greatest honor” she could be given as a songwriter, and both parties were rewarded with the biggest day of radio adds in the band’s history – before anyone knew the track was written by Swift.
“We were like ‘Damn, we were right! This is a good song,” she said.
Additionally, Little Big Town announced their second album in less than a year. The Breaker, which follows the June release of LBT’s Pharrell Williams collaboration Wanderlust, will be available to the public starting February 24th, 2017 – the same day the foursome will begin a six-night stand at the Ryman Auditorium. No other artist in history has held a residency in the iconic venue.
The residency coincides with the former church’s 125th anniversary, celebrating the inspiration it has given to artists of all genres and the impact it has had on American culture.
“We’ll be inviting some people who have inspired us through our career to be special guests every night,” Fairchild explained, “and also introducing what we think are the future artists of country music.”
The video for “Better Man” was released during the Ryman press conference and can be viewed above. LBT is up for Vocal Group of the Year at the 50th annual CMA Awards on November 2nd.
http://www.rollingstone.com/country/videos/hear-the-song-taylor-swift-wrote-for-little-big-town-w447895
