While in Nashville, Swift gained the attention of songwriter and record producer Scott Borchetta, who founded the independent label Big Machine Records in 2005. Impressed by her talent, Borchetta signed the young artist to a development deal, which led to the release of her debut single "Tim McGraw" in 2006. The single's success caught the attention of the country music industry, and it reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2007.
Swift released her self-titled debut album in October 2006, which was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. It topped the Billboard 200 chart and was certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over 5.5 million copies worldwide. Swift's subsequent albums continued to gain popularity, including her second studio album "Fearless" (2008), which won Album of the Year at the 2010 Grammy Awards, and "Speak Now" (2010), which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 1 million copies in its first week of release.
Swift's musical style evolved over time, incorporating elements of pop, rock, and country into her music. Her later albums, such as "Red" (2012), "1989" (2014), and "Reputation" (2017), marked a shift towards a more pop-oriented sound and established Swift as one of the most successful and acclaimed artists in the world. In 2020, she released two critically acclaimed albums, "Folklore" and "Evermore," which both debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and won Album of the Year at the 2021 and 2022 Grammy Awards, respectively.
Throughout her career, Swift has won numerous awards and accolades, including Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, People's Choice Awards, and Brit Awards. She has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.