‘Turned Out to Be a Beautiful Match’: Little Big Town Recalls Getting An Email From Taylor Swift About the Song Better Man

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As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for music and the stories behind it, I must say that Little Big Town‘s journey is truly inspiring. Their ability to adapt and collaborate, as demonstrated by their work with Taylor Swift on “Better Man,” is a testament to their versatility and openness to new experiences.

Over two decades have passed since Little Big Town first came together as a successful country music ensemble in 1998. To mark their silver anniversary in the music industry, they will soon release their latest album titled “Greatest Hits,” featuring some of their most beloved tracks, coming out later this month.

In addition to their original compositions, the tracklist will feature a unique song which they didn’t compose themselves. This particular tune, titled “Better Man,” was penned by pop sensation Taylor Swift. She generously offered the song to Little Big Town, expressing hope that they would appreciate it.

Over a distinguished career, the four members of Little Big Town – Karen Fairchild, Jimi Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman, and Philip Sweet – have achieved numerous significant moments. One such moment is Taylor Swift’s song being associated with them. Their hit “Better Man,” released in 2016 from the album The Breaker, even won LBT a Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Before the release of their new album “Greatest Hits” on August 9, LBT spoke with PEOPLE to look back and talk about potential tracks for the record. Of course, they were certain that ‘Better Man’ would have a place in it.

Philip Sweet recounted the sequence of events starting from when they received Taylor Swift’s email, continuing through all the subsequent occurrences, up to the ultimate triumph of the single’s success.

On a particular day, we were all relaxing at home since we weren’t on the road. Normally, we would be with Luke Bryan for his tour. One evening, I received an email that turned out to be from Taylor Swift. I was taken aback and said something like, “What is this?” Taylor shared this story on Thursday, August 1st.

He went on saying, “I gave it a read, and she mentioned, ‘By the way, I’ve got this tune. It’s been with me for some time now. I think your harmonies would suit it well. If you find it appealing, that’s fantastic. If not, no worries.’ The following day, our bandmates were taken aback by the pop star’s considerate act. ‘Surprisingly, it turned out to be a perfect fit for us,’ the Boondocks musician concluded.”

Despite being inspired by Taylor Swift’s method, LBT preferred their rendition of the song to stand independently. They chose not to disclose Swift’s involvement until afterwards. The most significant hurdle they faced was creatively reinterpreting Swift’s melody, as it proved challenging to distinguish their version from hers.

Consequently, LBT remade Taylor Swift’s Better Man to suit their unique style before it was included on their eighth album, The Breaker. Their initial concerns about the track were alleviated upon completion, prompting Taylor Swift to endorse the revised version herself.

During the interview, Karen Fairchild recounted that after listening to the song, she turned around with an open mouth. Essentially, she was struck by it and gave her approval for Little Big Town to proceed with the song. This tune then flourished on the music charts.

In their early days in Nashville, LBT and Taylor Swift have had a close relationship that dates back for years, as confirmed by Fairchild. Their collaboration not only strengthened their friendship but also led to LBT performing with Taylor Swift on her 1989 World Tour in 2015. Moreover, Better Man is a popular song in Taylor Swift’s concert setlist, and she even performed it during the recent Eras Tour.

On August 9th, I’m thrilled to announce that the 25th anniversary album of Little Big Town, titled “Greatest Hits,” will be released. After that, I can hardly wait for the upcoming tour this fall, where we’ll share the stage with Sugarland.

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2024-08-02 09:53