Introduction
Country Legend Dwight Yoakam Says Taylor Swift’s Early Music Still Counts as Country
In a recent interview, country music icon Dwight Yoakam weighed in on one of the music industry’s most debated topics: Is Taylor Swift still considered a country artist? According to Yoakam, at least when it comes to her early work, the answer is a resounding yes.
Yoakam, known for hits like “Guitars, Cadillacs” and “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere,” praised Swift’s songwriting and storytelling abilities, highlighting the emotional depth and sincerity of her early albums. “What Taylor did on those first few records was very much in the tradition of country music,” Yoakam said. “Songs like ‘Tim McGraw,’ ‘Teardrops on My Guitar,’ and ‘Our Song’—those are straight out of the country playbook. Honest, heartfelt, and personal.”
He acknowledged that Swift has since evolved into a global pop phenomenon, but emphasized that her country roots shouldn’t be overlooked or dismissed. “It’s natural for artists to grow and explore other genres,” he explained. “But that doesn’t erase where they came from. You can still hear the storytelling DNA of country music in her songwriting, even today.”
Yoakam also commented on the ongoing tension between traditionalists and modern country artists, saying the genre has always been evolving. “People said I wasn’t country enough back in the day,” he chuckled. “Same thing happened with Garth Brooks, and now you hear it with artists like Kacey Musgraves and even Morgan Wallen. It’s a cycle.”
He believes Swift deserves credit for introducing a whole new generation to country music, even if they didn’t stick around. “A lot of young people who had never listened to country music before discovered it through Taylor,” he said. “And some of them probably went on to explore other country artists because of her.”
When asked whether he thinks Swift should still be welcomed at country award shows or honored in the genre’s legacy, Yoakam didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely,” he said. “She paid her dues in Nashville, she wrote her own songs, and she helped move the genre forward. That’s what country music is all about.”
Taylor Swift, who began her career as a teenage country star, has faced criticism over the years for transitioning to pop with albums like 1989, Reputation, and Lover. Still, she has always expressed love and respect for her roots, even returning to a more stripped-down, folk-inspired sound on her Folklore and Evermore albums.
Dwight Yoakam’s support adds weight to the argument that genres aren’t always clear-cut, and that an artist’s contribution shouldn’t be measured by labels alone. As he put it, “Good music is good music. And Taylor Swift has made some damn good country music—whether people want to admit it or not.”