Sue Ontiveros: Taylor Swift a success, all on her own

Follow @sueontiveros

// <![CDATA[

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, ‘script’, ‘twitter-wjs’);

// ]]>What a silly reason to give Taylor Swift an award.

I feel nothing but love for Swift, but this latest accolade from Forbes magazine doesn’t sit well with me. I know I should follow Swift’s own lyrics and shake it off. Not just yet.

To tout its annual Celebrity 100 edition, the all-things-money magazine figured out a way to name the musical superstar one half of the Highest Paid Celebrity Couple. Gossip mags tell us Swift is dating songwriter/producer/DJ Calvin Harris, who’s no slouch in the money-making department, either. Forbes tallied up their earnings together and put them at the top of the list, knocking Beyonce and Jay Z out of the spot they once held.

Follow @sueontiveros

// <![CDATA[

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, ‘script’, ‘twitter-wjs’);

// ]]>

In reality, Forbes doesn’t need to use her relationship with any man to artificially elevate the singer’s accomplishments. And no way would the savvy “Style” singer/songwriter combine her bucks with someone she only recently started seeing. (Remember that, young ladies.)

Taylor Swift is the real deal when it comes to success and power, two things she uses not only for her own good, but for others.

With the wild success of her fifth album, “1989,” Swift became the only artist – female or male – to have three consecutive LPs make more than a million sales in the first week out. She’s won multiple honors from all the biggies: Grammy, Country Music Association, Billboard, American Music Awards, MTV Video Awards and the Academy of Country Music.

I like that she seems so grounded. We haven’t seen her falling down drunk or picked up for driving under the influence the way we have other entertainers. What we do see is someone who takes her craft seriously and works hard. Someone known for doing unexpected nice things for Swifties (her fans). One of the last requests of Chicagoan Emily Beazley was to talk to the singer. Before the 12-year-old died, Swift gave the Mount Greenwood child a call.

She has held her head up high when so many tried to paint her as a man-crazy chick desperate for a date. Before he married, George Clooney coupled with a bunch of women, yet no one ever suggested he was unlucky in love. Talk about a double standard.

But what I really find admirable about the singer is her using the power she has in the entertainment world to help others. She took to social media to tell Apple execs and the world she wasn’t going to put “1989” on the new Apple Music because it was not going to pay artists for the first 90 days. That was a greedy move by Apple, one that wouldn’t so much hurt Swift — she is reported to be worth more than $200 million. But it was a real hit for struggling new artists, folks who couldn’t go up against the Goliath that is Apple. Lightning fast, Apple backed off and changed its position.

There’s no need to put forward the antiquated idea that Swift is stronger when dating someone who’s also talented and wealthy. It’s obvious she’s a powerhouse all on her own.

Email: sueontiveros.cst@gmail.com

Follow Sue Ontiveros on Twitter: Follow @sueontiveros

Tweets by @CSTeditorials// <![CDATA[

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script”,"twitter-wjs”);

// ]]>