BY COURNEY KUSHNIR – By now I’m sure you’ve heard that singer/songwriter Taylor Swift has completely broken up with country music and has started a new and full time relationship with pop. For better or for worse, loyal Swift fans like myself have committed to sticking with Taylor through all of her relationships (and inevitable break-ups), evolving musical style included.

For years, Swift has been closely associated with country music. It is the genre that launched her rise to superstardom. Swift has won upwards of 38 awards all having to do with the genre, including 11 ‘Taste of Country’ awards. I myself am not very much into country, but Swift won my heart with early songs like “Forever and Always,” “Mary’s Song” and “Tim McGraw,” the song that, she remarks in the live iTunes studio version, “started it all” for her.

Despite loving Swift’s early music, I’m not sentimental about it. It’s no secret that people think Swift is “selling out” by switching to pop music. My argument is that Swift has reached the top of her game in the industry she started in. Breaking into a new genre, expanding her fanbase, and evolving musically are all reasonable steps for her career, as it would be for any musician. Not to mention, anyone who keeps up with Taylor’s music probably has known for a while that she isn’t the same little girl from Nashville that she started out as.

Personally, I’m pumped to see what Taylor has in store for us fans in the coming years. Sure, she’s been around for a long time, but there’s no way she’s going anywhere any time soon. Keep doing you, Taylor Swift.