Local fan gets to meet music star Taylor Swift

PHOTO SUBMITTED / Taylor Swift (left) hugs Brookhaven native Amber Ashley at a pizza party held at Swift's penthouse apartment.

PHOTO SUBMITTED / Taylor Swift (left) hugs Brookhaven native Amber Ashley at a pizza party held at Swift’s penthouse apartment.

From “Tim McGraw” to “Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift has gathered a group of devoted fans, and for that she has been appreciative.

To give back to her fans, Taylor Swift recently invited 85 people to attend her livestream event to announce her new song, album and music video. Fan selections were made through a contest, and one of the lucky invitees was Brookhaven native Amber Ashley.

Ashley said she has always been a fan of Swift, and the opportunity to meet her couldn’t be passed up.

“She seems like a friend,” Ashley said. “I listened to her music from the beginning, and it felt like I knew her.”

In person, Swift was everything Ashley hoped for.

“She was just so friendly, so kind, so hospitable,” Ashley said.

The livestream party was not the end of the road for the lucky fans. Afterward, Swift invited the whole group to a pizza party at her penthouse apartment. Ashley said Swift greeted each fan as they entered her apartment. The group was welcomed to explore the entire first level of the apartment. Ashley recalled the collection of photos and Grammys.

Swift interacted with the fans over pizza in the kitchen, including a spontaneous dance party. She also let the fans hold the Grammys.

“What’s the fun of having them if you can’t play with them,” Ashley recalls Swift saying.

Ashley, who had never been to New York before the trip, said she would definitely do it again if she ever got a chance.

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