when did taylor swift become famous

Taylor Swift became famous starting in 2006 when she released her first single "Tim McGraw" at age 16. This song reached the Billboard 100 and the top 10 on country music charts. Her debut self-titled album, released that same year, topped the country music charts and sold over one million copies quickly. She gained further recognition by winning Best New Female Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2008 and other major country music awards, cementing her rise to fame as a country music star before expanding her success into pop music in later years.