Phil Collins says Taylor Swift deserves huge success

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Phil Collins has publicly praised Taylor Swift, saying the global superstar deserves her monumental success and recalling how a performance years ago left him "blown away completely." Collins made the comments during an interview for BBC Radio 2's "Tracks of My Years" podcast, which was released on August 2, 2026.

Collins recounted meeting Swift at a Songwriters Hall of Fame event, introduced by his daughter, actress Lily Collins. He said he was aware of her name at the time but that she was not yet the star she is today. His opinion changed instantly when she took the stage. "This very nice lady then got up on stage with a guitar and sang 'White Horse,' and it blew me away completely," Collins said. He praised the song's quality and sentiment and her beautiful, simple delivery, adding that he has "always had a soft spot for this song since then."

The singer expressed his pleasure at Swift's current status. "I'm so pleased that she's the hugest thing in the world now because she kind of feels like she deserves it," Collins said. "I mean it's easy to knock someone that's got so much success, but I think she really deserves it." Swift performed "White...