Taylor Swift’s father, Scott Swift, is recovering after undergoing heart surgery. A representative for the pop star told Billboard on Wednesday that the stockbroker is “doing fantastic.”
Reports emerged earlier Wednesday that Scott, 73, had quintuple bypass surgery over a month ago. People confirmed that he opted for the procedure following a general checkup where his doctor recommended it to restore blood flow around a blocked heart artery, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The surgery was not a result of a heart attack. The 14-time Grammy winner and her brother, actor Austin Swift, were reportedly by their father’s side throughout the process, along with Scott’s wife of 37 years, Andrea Swift.
Scott Swift has played an important role in Taylor’s career, investing in her first label home, Big Machine Records. He is known to interact with fans at her concerts, earning the nickname “Papa Swift.”
Taylor Swift has paid tribute to her father in her music, notably on “The Best Day” from her 2008 album “Fearless.” In the song, dedicated to her mother Andrea, she sings, “I have an excellent father/ His strength is making me stronger.”
This health update comes about six years after Taylor revealed in an essay for Elle that her father had previously battled cancer. In the same piece, she discussed her mother’s cancer diagnosis in 2015 and a subsequent brain tumor discovery in 2020.
“I’ve had to learn how to handle serious illness in my family,” Taylor wrote. “It’s taught me that there are real problems and then there’s everything else… I give all of my worry, stress, and prayers to real problems now.”
Scott Swift is also known for his protective nature towards his daughter. When Big Machine founder Scott Borchetta sold the label to Scooter Braun in 2019, a move Taylor opposed, Mr. Swift declined to sign an NDA related to the negotiations, according to her team.
In 2024, he made headlines after being accused of assaulting a photographer attempting to capture images of Taylor in Australia. A representative later explained that the incident involved individuals “aggressively pushing their way towards Taylor,” and local police confirmed no further action would be taken.