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Gracie Abrams has shared how her friendship with Taylor Swift has influenced the way she approaches both her music and the pressures of life in the spotlight.
Speaking in a new cover story with Rolling Stone, the 26-year-old singer-songwriter reflected on the lessons she has learned from Swift, particularly when it comes to creating music without letting self-doubt or ego stand in the way.
The conversation began as Abrams discussed how fans often interpret her lyrics based on their own assumptions, even when those interpretations do not match her personal experiences.
"I'm comfortable with the reality that people will interpret my music from their own personal point of view, and I understand the position from which I'm writing," Abrams said.
She admitted that public perception can sometimes feel disconnected from her reality, adding that navigating fame has not always come naturally.
"But sometimes the way that things present are not how they feel inside," she explained. "In some core ways, there are aspects to this whole thing that feel at odds with my nervous system. There's confusion, guilt and shame associated with that feeling. You can become untethered from yourself quite quickly if you're not careful."
Abrams said watching Swift manage a career that has spanned nearly two decades has been a source of inspiration. She praised the global superstar's willingness to release music freely and honestly without worrying about how it might be viewed in the future.
"As a forever fan, I've always admired Taylor's output," Abrams said. "It's not just about the amount of work she creates, but the freedom she seems to have in sharing a snapshot of a particular moment in her life."
She added that Swift's ability to ignore outside opinions has encouraged her to stop overthinking how she might feel about a song months after releasing it.
"I think her years of experience tuning out feedback have helped me feel less precious with my ego. I've learned to think, 'What if I don't relate to this in six months?' Then I remind myself, who cares? I love it."
Abrams previously opened for Swift during the Eras Tour in 2023 and 2024. She also attended Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding last month at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Fellow singer-songwriter Noah Kahan also praised Abrams in the interview, saying the two have often discussed the challenge of balancing deeply personal songwriting with sharing those experiences publicly.
