Taylor Swift’s Shreveport-Bossier Love Affair
Even against all of the major tour stop cities in the US, the Shreveport-Bossier City area gets to claim a special relationship with Taylor Swift.
Her 'love affair' with the region is has been displayed through her whopping seven performances in the metro. These shows followed her evolution from a rising country star, to a global pop phenomenon.
The First Taylor Swift Concert In Shreveport-Bossier
Her journey in the 318 started in Bossier City, as an opening act for country music royalty. In October 2006, she took the stage as the opener for Rascal Flatts.This was one of her first ever performances on a national tour.
Prior to this appearance in Bossier City, Swift had only been on the Rascal Flatts tour for 3 nights. Her first night on the tour was October 19th, 2006 in Omaha, Nebraska. Then the tour stopped in Moline, IL on the 20th, and Austin, Texas on the 26th. Then came October 27th in Bossier City, where she took the CenurtyTel stage for the first time.
This almost didn't happen. Because Taylor Swift was added as a last minute replacement to the Rascal Flatts tour, after the group had to fire Eric Church from the road. If Eric Church didn't get let go from the tour, he plays Bossier City on October 27th, 2006 instead of Taylor Swift.
Another historic part of Swift's first Bossier City show is that it came just days after her self-titled debut album was release. That album was released on October 24th, and he first performance after was in Austin, then the next was Bossier.
More Taylor Swift Shreveport Area Concerts
Taylor Swift returned to the Shreveport-Bossier City area just a few months later, when she opened for the legendary George Strait in January 2007. Then had another opening shot with Brad Paisley on November 1st, 2007 in what seems to be an elusive show to recall for many in the Shreveport area.
Swift returned to Bossier City in 2008 to perform once again with Rascal Flatts. This was noteworthy, because it was one of her last tours as an opening act. Because we were about to see the next evolution of Taylor Swift.
As her own star burned brighter, she brought her very first headlining tour back to the area.
Taylor Swift World Tour Stops In Bossier City
Local fans eagerly welcomed Taylor Swift's first ever headlining world tour, the Fearless Tour in September of 2009. This was Swift's debut headlining tour, and it pulled into Bossier City on September 10th, 2009. The show (at the then named CenturyTel Center) also featured opening acts Gloriana and Kellie Pickler.
She then brought a stop on the Speak Now Tour into Bossier City in September 2011. This stop came on September 20th, 2011 and featured a key element of the Fearless Tour, a surprise cover. Being a stop in Louisiana gave Taylor a chance to pay tribute to the Queen of Louisiana, Britney Spears. Her Fearless Tour surprise cover that night was "Lucky".
Taylor Swift Brings The 1989 World Tour To Bossier City
The final chapter, for now, was a historic night on May 20th, 2015. On that date, over 12,000 fans packed the (then named) CenturyLink Center for what would be the first full U.S. arena show of the monumental 1989 World Tour.
While she had played a festival date in Las Vegas days prior, Bossier City hosted the official U.S. tour kickoff. The sold-out crowd of 12,459 witnessed a glimpse of the superstardom that would define the tour, which went on to gross over $250 million. Though it was the lowest-attended U.S. stop, its significance as the tour's starting point cemented a unique bond between Swift and her devoted Northwest Louisiana fanbase.
From opening act to record-breaking headliner, her repeated returns prove the area held a special place on her tour map.