7 Artists Who Opened For Taylor Swift And Saw Their Careers Explode Overnight

As of December 2025, the conversation around Taylor Swift’s tours is no longer just about the headliner; it is an in-depth study of the "Taylor Swift Effect" on the supporting acts. Securing a slot to open for an artist of her magnitude, particularly on a record-shattering global phenomenon like The Eras Tour, is the single greatest career catalyst in modern music, transforming indie darlings and emerging stars into household names.

This is not merely a gig; it is a meticulously curated launchpad. From a former backup dancer to established rock bands and burgeoning pop icons, the artists who opened for Taylor Swift gained an immediate, massive international fanbase, leading to sold-out headlining tours, chart-topping new albums, and a permanent shift in their professional trajectory. Their stories offer a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the industry's most powerful star-making machine.

The Eras Tour's Star-Making Machine: A Full Lineup of Openers

The Eras Tour was intentionally designed to showcase a diverse and powerful roster of talent, with Taylor Swift selecting artists she personally admires, respects, or has a history with. The sheer number of shows and the global reach of the tour meant that the list of openers was expansive, featuring a mix of established friends and exciting newcomers across the various legs in North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

• 5 Shocking Facts About Anna Congdon Penn State Sweetheart To Nfl Fiances Social Media Firestorm Cc90e

The selection process highlights Swift's commitment to promoting women-led, non-binary, and POC musicians, creating one of the most inclusive touring lineups in history. The following is a comprehensive look at the key artists who took the stage before the pop titan.

• The Core North American Lineup: This group featured the widest variety of artists, including the iconic rock band Paramore, indie-rock darling Phoebe Bridgers (who also collaborated with Swift on the song "Nothing New"), alt-pop sensation beabadoobee, Norwegian singer girl in red, and the sister trio HAIM, who are close friends of Swift.
• The Pop Powerhouses: Sabrina Carpenter and Gracie Abrams were the primary openers for the international legs, with both artists seeing an unprecedented surge in popularity that translated into global streaming and touring success.
• The London Wembley Stadium Roster: The historic run of shows in London showcased a rotating cast of British and Irish talent, including Holly Humberstone, Suki Waterhouse, Maisie Peters, and RAYE, further cementing Swift's dedication to boosting local music scenes.
• The Unique Addition: The singer-songwriter Owenn, a former backup dancer for Taylor Swift, opened for select dates, offering one of the most unique and heartwarming career transitions on the tour.

From Backup Dancer to Headliner: The Most Unique Opening Act Stories

While every artist benefited from the exposure, some of the most compelling narratives emerged from the deep personal connections and unique circumstances surrounding their inclusion on the tour. These behind-the-scenes stories illustrate the generosity and intentionality behind Swift's choices.

The Surreal Rise of Owenn

The story of Owenn (Christopher Owens) is arguably the most inspiring. Before he was an opening act, Owenn was a long-time member of Taylor Swift’s touring family, serving as one of her trusted backup dancers.

• The Surprise Vegas Wedding And Shared Grief 5 Shocking Details Of John Schneider And Dee Dee Sorvinos Whirlwind Romance Ohirf

His transition from performing choreography behind the star to performing his own original music on the same massive stage was a "surreal" moment for him. Swift's decision to offer him an opening slot was a direct endorsement of his burgeoning solo career, giving him an immediate audience of 70,000+ people per night to launch his music.

Gracie Abrams' 49-Show Journey

Gracie Abrams, who opened for a staggering 49 stops on the Eras Tour, became an integral part of the experience. Her intimate, vulnerable songwriting style resonated perfectly with the Swiftie fanbase, leading to a massive expansion of her following.

Abrams shared behind-the-scenes memories from the tour, highlighting the close-knit, supportive environment Swift fosters. Her prolonged presence on the tour cemented her status as one of the most promising young singer-songwriters in the industry.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

The Phoebe Bridgers Collaboration

Unlike some of the newer artists, Phoebe Bridgers had already achieved significant critical acclaim, but her inclusion deepened her mainstream exposure. Her connection to Swift was already established through their collaboration on the track "Nothing New (Taylor's Version)" from the Red (Taylor's Version) album.

This artistic partnership translated into a powerful on-stage presence, where Bridgers’ dark, introspective indie-rock provided a compelling contrast to Swift’s pop spectacle, exposing her music to millions of new listeners.

The 'Taylor Swift Effect': Post-Tour Success and New Albums

The most telling metric of the tour’s impact is the post-tour success of the openers. The exposure is a massive injection of capital—both financial and cultural—that has propelled several artists into their next, more successful career "era."

Sabrina Carpenter: The Pop Icon Transition

While Sabrina Carpenter had been in the spotlight for years, her music career achieved a new, stratospheric level of success after opening for the international legs of The Eras Tour.

The opportunity helped her expand her fanbase internationally, leading to multiple hits and a successful transition from a teen star to a sophisticated pop icon. Her distinct, mature pop sound has resonated globally, proving the "Taylor Swift Effect" can rebrand and accelerate an already promising career.

Gracie Abrams: Chart Dominance and New Releases

For Gracie Abrams, the tour was a game-changer. Her debut studio album, Good Riddance, was released in 2023, and her presence on the tour directly fueled the success of her entire discography.

Following her massive tour run, Abrams saw a staggering 3935% sales increase for her debut EP, Minor, proving that the Eras audience was digging deep into her back catalog. Fans are now eagerly anticipating her new album, The Secret Of Us, a project that is poised to be one of the biggest releases of the year, directly capitalizing on her Eras Tour momentum.

beabadoobee: Transformation and Inspiration

The Eras Tour was a "transformative experience" for indie-rock artist beabadoobee.

The singer-songwriter has openly discussed how playing on such a massive stage, and the experience of touring with Taylor Swift, has influenced her creative process. She is now drawing inspiration from the experience for her new music, demonstrating that the impact extended beyond just audience numbers into genuine artistic growth.

Maisie Peters: Navigating the Spotlight

The experience is not without its challenges. Maisie Peters, who opened at Wembley, faced some online scrutiny after her performance. However, she handled the situation with grace and humor, a testament to the resilience often required in the industry.

Her perfect, low-key response to the trolls—sharing a Spotify link to her music—showed how these artists are learning to leverage the immense spotlight, good or bad, to drive engagement with their work.

The Enduring Legacy of Taylor Swift’s Openers

The artists who opened for Taylor Swift on The Eras Tour have fundamentally altered the landscape of their careers. They gained access to a global, loyal, and engaged fanbase that few other platforms can offer. The tour served as a masterclass in large-scale performance, fan engagement, and career management.

From Ed Sheeran's early days opening for the Red Tour to the current crop of stars like Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter, Swift has consistently proven her ability to spot and elevate star talent. Her choice of openers is a powerful statement about the artists she believes in, turning a supporting role into a career-defining moment for the next generation of music superstars.