Taylor Swift.Photo: TAS Rights Management 2021 via Getty
Taylor Swiftis taking us to the world ofFolklore!
Alongside her album collaborators Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, Swift — whoreceived six nominations this year— hit the stage to perform a medley of “Cardigan,” “August” and “Willow” from bothFolkloreandEvermoreduring the2021 Grammy Awards.
Wearing a metallic blue and silver Etro dress and Cathy Waterman hairpiece, Swift started her performance with “Cardigan” as she sang into the camera while laying on a grassy structure and set resemblingFolklorecover’s album art.
Taylor Swift.TAS Rights Management 2021 via Getty
Then, Swift joined Dessner and Antonoff — as all three played guitar — in a cabin-like structure to perform “August.” The trio transitioned intoEvermore’s “Willow,” as Swift danced to her set’s final song.
The performance marked the 31-year-old’s seventh time performing at the Grammys — and her first in five years.
Ahead of her performance, the “Cardigan” singershared a photowith Antonoff, Dessner, Laura Sisk and Jonathan Low — who all worked on the Grammy-nominated album — on her Instagram Story.
“folklorian family photo,” Swift captioned the shot.
She also revealed that she’d be performing with herFolklorecollaborators in a video on the Grammys Instagram.
Check out PEOPLE’sfull Grammys coverageto get the latest news on music’s biggest night.
“One thing I can tell you about my Grammy performance that isn’t highly confidential is that my performance includes my collaborators Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff,” she said. “Which is really exciting, because this has been an adventure that the three of us have gone on since the very beginning of quarantine and lockdown.”
Taylor Swift.Kevin Mazur/Getty
“We’ve only gotten to be together in the same room once, so this is really awesome to get to be together with them again,” Swift continued. “We’re quarantining in the same house for the whole week. We’re tested every day, so it’s just really exciting, honestly, to play music with your collaborators. That’s something that I will never, ever take for granted again.”
Among the singer’s six nominations, Swift’sfolkloregot nominated for best pop vocal album and lead single “Cardigan” was also recognized in the song of the year and best pop solo performance categories.
Ahead of the telecast, Swift lost in the best pop duo/group category toAriana GrandeandLady Gagaand the best song written for a visual media toBillie Eilish.
Looking back at the two albums she created during the pandemic (folklore’s sister record,evermore, was released in December),Swift recentlytold PEOPLEthat she’s learned how much can be accomplished even without fanfare.
“I think one of the revelations from this time that I’ll take with me moving forward is that oftentimes less is more,” she said. “An album photo shoot can really be as simple as walking out into a field with one photographer at your friends' farm and you can do your own hair and makeup for it.”
“You can write songs without traveling or being in the same space as another collaborator. You can tell your fans about what you made without going on an international promo tour,” she added. “These things are options I didn’t explore before and I’m glad that I know they exist now.”
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Like many socially-distanced awards shows that have already taken place, this year’s Grammy nominees will be coming together while staying safely apart to celebrate music’s biggest night amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
source: people.com
