Taylor Swift gives fans what they want When 15-year-old Aleeshya Broome scored the wristband she needed to meet Taylor Swift during the singer's 15-hour fan party and autograph session, her reaction was immediate.

"I started crying instantly," Broome said. "And when we got called down here I started crying instantly because it's way too overwhelming."

Broome was one of thousands who got the kind of access to country music's biggest stars over the weekend that fans usually only dream about.

Swift wasn't the only star pressing the flesh before and during the four-day CMA Music Festival, which draws fans from around the world.

Tim McGraw, signing for the first time since 2000, gave out 3,000 autographs in two hours. The Zac Brown Band put out food created by Chef Rusty Hamlin, the Smyrna, Ga., restaurateur who feeds the band and fans at every tour stop.

Swift's fan gathering was the biggest by far with organizers reporting 10,000 in attendance at the meet and greet in the Bridgestone Arena. People came and went all day. There were activities for fans, pieces of her Fearless Tour set on display and a free four-song acoustic concert that was attended by several thousand.

Fans made signs expressing their love for Swift. One group of girls held up a banner that read, "Taylor Swift is our hero!" as they made circuit after circuit of the arena's concourse while chanting "Taylor Swift! Taylor Swift!"

There were makeovers, the chance to peek inside Swift's t-party room and so many hugs. Swift wouldn't break the endurance record at CMA Fest — that's held by Garth Brooks, who once signed for an entire day — but she had to be approaching the hug record.

All 2,000 people who met Swift got at least one. Broome walked away with three.

Swift said in an interview between autographs that when she was growing up, she often daydreamed that if she ever became a star she would do her best to give everyone autographs. She charted Sunday's progress by marking the hours on her arm and wasn't flagging one bit after scrawling a "7'' near her elbow with a black Sharpie.

She planned to sign for 13 hours because that's her favorite number, but ended up sticking around for 15, coincidentally the title of one of her biggest hits.

"I'm having a blast," Swift said. "I'm surprised my legs aren't hurting yet. I'm surprised that there's no aching going on. I'm really having so much fun because like we're all having a very good time today. They're all telling me really sweet stories."

Swift held up her arm. Her left forearm was two-thirds covered in a multicolored array of bracelets given to her by fans.

"This is just today," Swift said. "I don't know. This has been one of the coolest days I can remember."

The same goes for Broome, who traveled to Nashville with her mother, April. Broome, wearing a pink Taylor Swift sundress, was visibly shaking as she described her time with Swift, who signed Broome's iPhone and her hand.

"That's never ever coming off," Broome said. "If I could get a tattoo I would."

 

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- Posted on June 14, 2010