PHOTO: Taylor Swift. FILE
If there was ever any doubt about Taylor Swift‘s status as a megastar, the response to her 11th studio album erased it completely.
“The Tortured Poets Department,” her surprise double album released on Friday, shattered streaming records across all major platforms, from Spotify to Apple Music. It became the first album in Spotify history to amass over 300 million streams in a single day, claimed the title of the biggest pop album of all time for first-day streams on Apple Music, and upon its release day, became the most streamed album on Amazon Music ever.
With such overwhelming popularity, even the slightest tidbit about the billionaire singer has become highly sought after.
Enter Tyler Conroy, a self-proclaimed superfan who has been appointed as the inaugural Taylor Swift correspondent for ITV’s This Morning. Having followed her for 16 years, Conroy attests to Swift’s unwavering humility despite her colossal fame. And if there’s one weakness she has, it’s monogrammed bath towels — monochrome, adorned with “TS.”
Taylor bought the seven-bedroom £15 million Tribeca, New York townhouse from Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson in 2014, which she then expanded with three more units
Conroy, a 31-year-old influencer from Massachusetts, has been devoted to Ms. Swift since 2008. Beginning at the age of 15, he took up guitar lessons to master every song from her second album, Fearless, and even authored the 2016 biography, “Taylor Swift: This Is Our Song.”
The pinnacle of Conroy’s life, he recalls, occurred when he was invited to spend a day with his idol at her New York residence, following a musical tribute he organized in her honor. There, he and other select fans were given free rein over Swift’s ground-floor living space, indulging in her amenities, raiding her fridge stocked with Diet Coke, and exploring her library adorned with Harry Potter novels.
Tyler Conroy is a self-confessed superfan who has been hired by ITV ‘s This Morning to be the show’s first Taylor Swift correspondent
Even her father, Scott, was present, lounging in the TV area. And as Conroy marveled at his surroundings, Taylor’s chart-topping anthem “Shake It Off” played in the background.
Swift, 34, acquired the seven-bedroom Tribeca townhouse for $18 million in 2014, expanding it by purchasing adjacent units and merging them to create a sprawling 8,300 sq ft abode, now estimated at $50 million. Though notoriously private about her home life, glimpses of her rustic décor and cherished possessions occasionally surface on social media.
A notable feature of her abode is a secret bathroom accessible through a concealed door behind a bookcase, adding an air of mystique to the already enchanting space.
Aside from her musical endeavors, Swift is known for her penchant for Polaroid photography, adorning her walls with candid snapshots of her loved ones. Despite criticisms regarding her use of private jets, colleagues attest to her down-to-earth nature and strong work ethic instilled by her parents, Andrea and Scott.
While Swift maintains a close connection with her fans, she doesn’t shy away from addressing critics through her music. Her latest album has sparked speculation about thinly veiled references to past conflicts and relationships, prompting fervent discussions among her loyal followers.
For Conroy, Swift’s impact transcends mere fandom; she has been a source of inspiration and support through life’s trials, including his journey of self-discovery and coming out as gay. As he reflects on their encounters, he remains profoundly grateful for her influence, declaring himself the luckiest “Swifty” in the world.
SOURCE: THE DAILY MAIL