Don McLean Shares Concerns for Taylor Swift’s Mental Health Amidst Her “Monster” Fame
Music legend Don McLean offers advice and expresses concern for Taylor Swift’s mental well-being as her fame continues to soar, urging her to prioritize happiness over commercial success.
Bollywood Fever: Music icon Don McLean, known for his timeless hit “American Pie,” has opened up about his concerns for Taylor Swift‘s mental health as she navigates the immense pressures of her “monster” fame.
McLean, whose record for the longest number-one hit was recently surpassed by Swift’s “All Too Well,” praised the 34-year-old singer’s incredible talent and work ethic but urged her to focus on her happiness amidst her skyrocketing career.
“She’s working all of the time and everything she does, she does better than everybody else,” McLean shared in an interview with The Standard.
“But the only thing is that [I hope] she stays happy. Showbusiness and fame… I’m very fortunate that I’ve had that. I know how to [handle] that.”
Drawing from his own experiences, McLean, 79, advised Swift to cultivate interests outside of her career to help manage the pressures of stardom.
He emphasized the importance of not getting caught up in chasing commercial success and staying true to her artistic vision, regardless of public reception.
“You have to be happy with what you’re doing,” he said. “A lot of people say if a song or an album isn’t commercially successful, that’s somehow a negative. I don’t even think of it. I don’t really think about whether it caught the fancy of the public, it doesn’t matter to me.”
McLean also touched on the importance of owning one’s work, a lesson Taylor Swift learned the hard way after her old label sold the rights to her early albums. He praised her for her resilience in re-recording her music to regain control over her creations.
“Look at Taylor Swift. Such a smart lady and so talented, yet she didn’t realize the albums that she was making were not hers,” McLean pointed out. “One of the reasons why I own all of the songs that I’ve ever written is I was given good legal advice when I started out in 1968.”
Despite his concerns, McLean commended Swift as a shining example of what talent and hard work can achieve, calling her rise to global superstardom a testament to her dedication.
“Taylor Swift was a star for 15 years before she became a monster star, the size of the galaxy for God’s sake,” he said.
Swift, who is currently enjoying a break from her Eras Tour at her Rhode Island mansion with boyfriend Travis Kelce and close friends, previously sent McLean flowers and a heartfelt note after her song “All Too Well” broke his long-standing record. The gesture highlighted the mutual respect between the two artists, with Swift acknowledging McLean’s influence on her own music journey.
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