Things we didn’t have on our Bingo card? Taylor Swift quoting John Dutton during her Songwriters Hall of Fame induction speech.
On Thursday, June 11, the 36-year-old pop star took the stage at the 55th Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, held at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, to become the second-youngest artist to ever be inducted—second only to Stevie Wonder, who was inducted in 1983 at the age of 33.
During her acceptance speech, Taylor’s voice was incredibly hoarse after cheering on the New York Knicks from the coveted celebrity row during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Instead of apologizing for her scratchy vocals, she used them to bring one of John’s most impactful quotes to life in her speech.
“It’s hard to harden yourself to certain brutal elements of this world,” she said to the crowd, complete with a hint of Western twang. “But allow me to now make a hard pivot and pull out a quote I love from the show Yellowstone, when a father says to his son, ‘It’s the one constant in life, son, you build something worth having, somebody’s gonna try to take it.’”
While John (portrayed by Kevin Costner) had been referencing the land he so adored and faithfully protected, Taylor used his words to shed light on one of her great life lessons. “John Dutton was talking about a ranch, but I’m using this quote to refer to self-worth, peace of mind, and singular vision as a creator,” the Grammy Award-winner revealed. “If you make anything awesome, someone out there is bound to say horrible things about it. Or twist what you meant into something completely unrecognizable to you. You can be sensitive but also durable… Take what’s useful and constructive and leave out what’s damaging to your creativity.”
It was a message that was as well received online as it was in the ballroom. “Taylor quoting Taylor,” one fan exclaimed on Instagram. “Love a good speech with a good quote,” someone else commented. “Amen to that, Taylor,” another Instagrammer chimed in.
Over the years, Taylor has cemented herself as one of the biggest role models for artists, women, and girls. Her speech on Thursday night simply continued that conversation and excited fans about what’s next. Now, if only her John Dutton quote is an Easter egg for a Dutton Ranch cameo. One can hope!
