Little Big Town Reveals Taylor Swift’s Surprising Backstage Hobby

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Originally appeared on E! Online

It turns out Taylor Swift loves the players and the games.

Little Big Town, who included the Taylor-penned "Better Man" on their 2017 The Breaker album, shared behind-the scenes details of working with the "Love Story" singer while diving into her country roots at the 2024 CMT Music Awards April 7.

"We've known Taylor for a long time," Karen Fairchild explained to E! News' Paul Costabile outside the Moody Center in Austin, Texas. "We've known Taylor since she was hanging out in the dressing room and was singing her first song on an award show."

In fact, Karen recalled one of their best bonding moments backstage, noting, "She was asking us what lip glosses we were using and video gaming with the guys." (See all the stars on the CMT Music Awards red carpet here and tune in to E! News April 8 for more exclusive interviews).

Fellow members Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet and Jimi Westbook nodded while remembering the good times.

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"That's another community thing," Karen continued. "And [it was] so kind of her to send us a beautiful song."

Phillip explained how the band ended up with "Better Man" on their 2017 record, a song that went on to be included in the vault tracks for Red (Taylor's Version) in 2021.

"I guess mine was the only email address she had," he quipped. "I got this song in the inbox and I went and played it for them the very next day we were on the road. I was like, when I heard it, ‘This is huge,' and the first time everyone heard it, we were all in."

Little Big Town, Taylor Swift
Frazer Harrison/ACMA/Getty Images for ACMA

And while Taylor mostly left her country roots behind after the 2014 release of 1989, "Better Man" by Little Big Town won her a CMA Award in 2017, and she knew back in 2019 she would put it on her rerecorded record.

"I wrote the song ‘Better Man' for Little Big Town, and they took that song all the way to the CMA Song of the Year," she explained to Ryan Seacrest at the time. "I wrote during the Red—it was originally going to be on the Red album—so the fans are like, 'Maybe she'll put 'Better Man,' her version, on the Red album?' And I was like, 'That's an amazing idea!'"

Fans won't get to see a Little Big Town and Taylor collab at the 2024 CMT Music Awards, but plenty of stars are dressed to the nines for the occasion. Read on to see every red carpet look.

Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town

<p>Jimi Westbrook, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town</p>
Jay Conlon/CBS via Getty Images


Keith Urban

<p>Keith Urban</p>
Chris Saucedo / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Mickey Guyton

<p>Mickey Guyton</p>
Nicola Gell / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Melissa Etheridge

<p>Melissa Etheridge</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Jelly Roll

<p>Jelly Roll</p>
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Emma Roberts

<p>Emma Roberts</p>
Chris Saucedo / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Emily Ann Roberts

<p>Emily Ann Roberts</p>
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for CMT


Lainey Wilson

<p>Lainey Wilson</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Chase Stokes, Kelsea Ballerini

<p>Chase Stokes, Kelsea Ballerini</p>
Hubert Vestil/Getty Images


Emily Osment

<p>Emily Osment</p>
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for CMT


Jennifer Nettles

<p>Jennifer Nettles</p>
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Minnie Driver

<p>Minnie Driver</p>
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Amber Riley

<p>Amber Riley</p>
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Ashley Cooke

<p>Ashley Cooke</p>
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Gayle King

<p>Gayle King</p>
Nicola Gell / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Tiera Kennedy

<p>Tiera Kennedy</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


GloRilla

<p>GloRilla</p>
Nicola Gell / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Tanner Adell

<p>Tanner Adell</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Trisha Yearwood

<p>Trisha Yearwood</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Lukas Nelson

<p>Lukas Nelson</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Ashley McBryde

<p>Ashley McBryde</p>
Hubert Vestil/Getty Images


Tiera Kennedy

<p>Tiera Kennedy</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Jane Seymour

<p>Jane Seymour</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


Dasha

<p>Dasha</p>
Hubert Vestil / Stringer / GETTY IMAGES


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