Taylor Swift told Recording Academy chief executive Harvey Mason Jr. at Los Angeles's Grammy Museum this week that she repeats a simple phrase whenever her fame feels "unmanageably big."
TL;DR
- Swift shared her go-to "coping mechanism" mantra during the Recording Academy's Icon Sessions at the Grammy Museum.
- The invite-only event, filmed August 18 and released online this week, doubled as her first public appearance since her wedding.
- She said telling herself "You chose this" helps her manage the pressures of global stardom.
- Her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl, is still setting UK chart records.
The remarks came during one of the busiest stretches of Swift's career, arriving weeks after her wedding and months into a record-breaking album campaign.
A candid conversation at the Grammy Museum
Swift opened up about handling fame during The Icon Sessions with Taylor Swift: A 20-Year Retrospective, an invite-only conversation with Recording Academy chief executive Harvey Mason Jr. Held August 18 at the museum's Clive Davis Theater for around 100 members of the Recording Academy's Songwriters & Composers Wing, the session was released online this week, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Swift said she leans on several "coping mechanisms" to manage the demands of superstardom. One, she explained, is reminding herself "You chose this every day," according to Female First. She added that she could have stepped away before her career "got unmanageably big," but chose to stay because she loves it.
Why she keeps making music
Swift said her drive to keep releasing new material comes down to her fans rather than critical approval. Putting out music she believes in, she said, is not a route to universal validation — and continuing to do it anyway is proof the motivation is genuine, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
She also described a lighter tactic for dealing with online mockery: turning to elaborate vocabulary her critics might have to look up. Swift said it's "really fun to mock them back," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Her UK chart record keeps growing
14 — Taylor Swift's tally of UK Number One albums, more than any other international act in chart history. Source: Official Charts Company
The Life of a Showgirl delivered the biggest opening week of Swift's career in the UK, topping both the Official Albums Chart and the Official Singles Chart at once, according to Official Charts Company. The album's launch also became the UK's fastest-selling vinyl release this century, according to Billboard.
What's next for Swift
The Grammy Museum appearance came shortly after Swift's wedding to NFL tight end Travis Kelce, capping a summer that also included a Songwriters Hall of Fame induction. She is widely expected to pick up multiple nominations at the 2027 Grammy Awards, according to Just Jared.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed 25 August 2026.
