Why Was Taylor Swift Removed From the Legends Mural in Nashville in 2020?

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In 2020, the Legends mural in Nashville stirred up controversy when Taylor Swift was erased from the artwork. This notable mural is a city landmark that celebrates legendary country artists like Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. Of course, Swift’s fans weren’t silent about their disapproval, voicing their anger online against the change. However, the artist behind the mural later explained why Taylor Swift was no longer featured in the artwork.

Here’s everything we know.

Was Taylor Swift removed from the Legends Mural in 2020?

Five years ago, the Legend’s Corner bar in Nashville made significant changes to its well-known mural honoring country music legends. While Brad Paisley was included, Taylor Swift’s image was concealed and removed, sparking anger among her fans, or “Swifties.” In no time, “#YOUNG TAYLOR RAN COUNTRY” became a popular topic on social media platforms like Twitter.

A short while later, Tim Davis, the artist responsible for the mural, spoke up about the situation. In an interview with USA Today, he revealed that they chose to take Taylor Swift off the mural because of her transition from country music to pop. He stated that there had been a lot of criticism in Nashville about Taylor being on the wall alongside country legends since she is now primarily focused on pop music.

He went on to explain, “Drunken patrons at bars have purposefully spat on her likeness due to their sense of betrayal over her decision to leave the country. It’s not entirely surprising, but generally speaking, the residents of Nashville adore her, just as I do.

Instead, Davis pledged to fans that they will build an entirely new mural honoring Taylor Swift, the “Shake it Off” sensation. On December 28, 2020, Davis launched a GoFundMe campaign to gather funds for this dedicated mural of Swift. In his description, he wrote, “Given her impact as an artist straddling both country and pop music realms, it is fitting that she be immortalized on a significant mural in Music City, symbolizing her country origins and her rightful title as the pop queen.

Beginning in 2006, Taylor Swift burst onto the country music stage with her debut single “Tim McGraw.” In 2008, she followed up with her second studio album, Fearless, which saw extraordinary success and solidified her as a rising star. Her subsequent albums Speak Now and Red also topped the charts. However, Swift pivoted to mainstream pop with the release of 1989. More recently, she’s been exploring synth and folk pop sounds on albums like The Tortured Poets Department and Midnights.

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2025-05-19 11:43