Fearless

Fearless is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released November 11, 2008, by Big Machine Records in the U.S. and Canada, and an international edition was released on March 9, 2009. Written largely by Swift while she was promoting her 2006 eponymous debut album in 2007–2008, Fearless features additional songwriting credits from Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Colbie Caillat, and John Rich. Swift wrote seven of the thirteen songs on the standard edition by herself and, in her debut as a record producer, co-produced all songs with Nathan Chapman. Fearless is a country pop album featuring traditional country instruments such as banjos, fiddles, mandolins and acoustic guitars, intertwined with electric guitars. Music critics noted the album's crossover appeal brought by the influences of different styles including pop, folk, and rock. Inspired by Swift's feelings as a teenager, the lyrics explore themes of romance, heartache, and aspirations. The album's title refers to the overarching theme of all of its tracks, as they altogether depict Swift's courage to embrace the challenges of love. After the release of Fearless, Swift embarked on the Fearless Tour, which ran from April 2009 to July 2010. Five songs were released as singles, including three US Billboard Hot 100 top-ten entries: "Love Story", "You Belong with Me", and "Fearless". "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me" were successful on both country and pop radio. The album spent eleven weeks atop the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. It peaked in the top five of albums charts and received multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.K., and has sold twelve million copies worldwide by April 2021. Music critics complimented Swift's songwriting craftsmanship on Fearless for offering radio-friendly tunes and engaging narratives, though some deemed the production formulaic. Fearless won Album of the Year at both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2009. At the 2010 Grammy Awards, it won Album of the Year and Best Country Album. The album featured on Rolling Stone's 2022 list of the 100 Greatest Country Albums of All Time. Following the 2019 dispute regarding the ownership of Swift's back catalog, she released a re-recording, Fearless (Taylor's Version), on April 9, 2021.