Taylor Swift Returned to Her Nashville Roots to Do Fireball Shots and Reminisce
Taylor Swift’s Reputation was released into the world without the usual world tour or months-long calendar of public appearances. But on Easter Eve, Swift made a rare, chatty cameo at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe, where she traded stories with country songwriter Craig Wiseman and performed acoustic versions of a few of her hits.
Wiseman, who was topping the bill at the venue’s Easter concert, was in on the surprise, and invited Swift to join him out onstage, as reported by The Tennesseean. Wiseman, who has known Swift since she was a teenager and who made a name for himself writing songs like Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” and Kenny Chesney’s “Young,” took the opportunity to tell a story involving Swift, Fireball whiskey, and a CMT after party. Florida Georgia Line had name-dropped the spirit in their song “Round Here,” and, as Wiseman is a key player in the band’s career, Fireball sent some of its product to his house. Swift, who was at the party, made a beeline for the shot room.
”I got her a shot of Fireball, and then I got her another one,” Wiseman said. “For the rest of the party, I would go get a shot of Fireball ... and snake my hand through the people (on this balcony) in her general direction. I don't even know if she took it, but it disappeared.”
At the end of the party, Swift revealed, she and Ed Sheeran stole a big inflatable bottle as a party favor. She and Wiseman decided to recreate the experience by doing shots at the Bluebird during their set. “I’m literally watching you, and I’m just going to do what you do,” Swift told Wiseman. “I’m going to look you in the eye the whole time.” When they finished, Wiseman said he was going to sell Swift’s tiny empty bottle and donate the funds to charity.
