Taylor’s Proud Parents Supported Her Eras Tour, Handed Out Fried Chicken to Fans

Taylor Swift’s parents Scott and Andrea were in the Wembley crowd on Friday to watch their daughter perform yet another sold-out show from The Eras Tour.

The billionaire songstress, 34, is in the middle of her second leg at the national stadium, following her string of dates in June.

Addressing the crowd, an emotional Taylor said: ‘You win Wembley night two,’ after being left stunned by the sheer noise. She added, ‘I know I was recording a video of that in my head, but I guarantee my parents were just recording that on their phones. Every time I have a sad or bad day from now on, not only will I have the video in my mind but I’m going to revisit that moment.’

Taylor’s parents are rarely pictured together since their split in 2011, and Andrea shies away from the spotlight. However, Scott, 72, made headlines on Friday when he handed around a plate of chicken tenders to his fellow concert-goers, further demonstrating his role as the singer’s biggest supporter.

In June, Scott was also present during Taylor’s first leg at Wembley, continually showing his support. Andrea has been no less supportive, playing an instrumental part in Taylor’s now-billion-dollar career despite her cancer battle.

Scott, a longtime Merrill Lynch employee, operates The Swift Group in the family’s hometown of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. According to Bloomberg, a disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission lists him as linked to ten companies affiliated with his daughter, covering merchandising, rights-management businesses, and entities owning her tour bus, two private jets, and real estate.

The father-of-two has always been protective of his daughter, a trait that has been visible during The Eras Tour. Scott’s involvement in Taylor’s tours is so considerable that she even made him an all-access ‘Dad of Headliner’ pass at the start of her Eras tour.

Their closeness is regularly remarked upon, with Scott often being described as ‘the most supportive dad’ at The Era Tour. At a concert last year, TikToker @haylzz13 shared a clip of Scott filming Taylor’s performance with awe, and commenters expressed delight, believing he ‘must be beyond proud.’

Scott has also gained attention for handing out 2,000 VIP wristbands to lucky fans at various shows, an act that further cements his supportive role.

Taylor’s relationship with her father is also reflected in her music. In The Best Day, she sings about him: ‘I have an excellent father, his strength is making me stronger.’ Lyrics from other songs like Mine from the Speak Now album and Love Story also showcase his influence.

Marketing manager Andrea and stockbroker Scott married in 1988, welcoming their daughter Taylor in 1989 and later their son Austin in 1992. The family lived on a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania, a backdrop that inspired Taylor’s 2019 hit of the same name.

In a 2014 interview with Esquire, Taylor spoke about her childhood, explaining how her father would tend to the farm as a hobby. ‘He’d get up four hours early to mow the fields on his tractor. We all had jobs. Mine was picking the praying-mantis pods off the trees, collecting them so the bugs wouldn’t hatch inside people’s houses,’ she revealed. Taylor also credited her parents for instilling a sense of hard work and education.

Andrea and Scott became aware of her passion for music early on, prompting the family’s move to Nashville when she was 14. This move helped Taylor pursue her dreams of becoming a singer without the pressure of “making it.”

Taylor landed a record deal with Sony in 2004 at just 14 years old, becoming the youngest signing in the label’s history, before moving to Big Machine Records the following year. Speaking to UDaily in 2009, Scott recalled recognizing her talent early on, noting that her passion for music was evident even when she was a young child.

Andrea has always been portrayed as calculated, logical, and business-minded. One of Taylor’s first managers praised both Andrea and Scott for their marketing acumen, noting that they were instrumental in developing Taylor’s professional image even before she signed her record deal. Andrea’s innovative use of MySpace to promote Taylor’s music is often cited as a key factor in her early success.

Taylor’s early Southern accent has long been a topic of speculation among fans. Although Taylor spent her early years in Pennsylvania, some believe her accent was encouraged by her parents to better align with the country music scene. Whatever the case, Taylor has never directly addressed this speculation.

Andrea is also thought to be behind the clever naming of Taylor’s debut single, Tim McGraw, to draw attention by associating Taylor with an established name. The strategy apparently worked, helping her to capture the public’s attention.

Andrea and Scott’s connection with Taylor’s fanbase is another way they have boosted her brand. Whether it’s Scott handing out chicken tenders or Andrea mingling with fans, these interactions help create a strong, positive connection with Taylor’s supporters.

Taylor’s sixth tour, The Eras Tour, is the highest-grossing tour in history, running from March 2023 to December 2024, a testament to the effective strategies and support of her dedicated parents.