At the height of global fame, record-breaking tours, and nonstop headlines, Taylor Swift still reaches for something surprisingly simple when life gets complicated: wisdom from those who’ve walked the road before her.
Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week, the 35-year-old superstar opened up about the quiet support system that helps ground her — and named one music icon who has become a constant, guiding presence in her life.
That person? Fleetwood Mac legend Stevie Nicks.
“I try to find through lines in people’s experiences,” Swift explained, reflecting on how she processes life, success, and pressure. “Even if our lives aren’t identical, there’s so much you can learn.”
For Swift, those lessons often come from Nicks, 77 — a woman who navigated fame, criticism, creativity, and reinvention decades before Swift ever stepped on a stage.
“I have Stevie Nicks in my life in a way that affects me positively, constantly,” Swift said warmly. “Being able to talk to her, hear what she’s been through… she paved the way for me, and for so many other artists.”
The singer described Nicks’ influence as something almost intangible — a mix of strength, grace, and hard-earned wisdom.
“I feel like she’s lent me her magical, wonderful, wise approach to life,” Swift added.
Their bond spans years, from shared performances to quiet conversations away from the spotlight — a rare connection between two women who understand the cost of longevity in music.
And just as Swift looks upward for guidance, others now look to her.
Rising pop star Sabrina Carpenter recently described Swift as one of her “best, best friends,” praising her for offering calm, steady advice amid public scrutiny and industry noise.
“She’s such a gangster with all of it,” Carpenter said in a past interview. “No matter what people say, she handles everything with grace.”
Swift, for her part, made it clear she has no intention of slowing down — despite critics who suggest she’s everywhere, all the time.
“There are people who love longevity,” she told Colbert. “And others who say, ‘Give someone else a turn.’”
Her response?
“I don’t want to.”
And with mentors like Stevie Nicks still in her corner — and younger artists now following her lead — Taylor Swift’s story of guidance, growth, and creative resilience is far from over.
