Tina Dawn is chatting with The Hollywood Reporter from her Nashville residence, presenting her lively red rescue parrot, Scarlet, via Zoom – one of the many animals and birds she’s assisted in saving. Meanwhile, Shannon Beresford has completed a nine-date tour in New Zealand, Charity Eden is performing her popular tune “Anxious Attachment” throughout America, and Sarah Jessica Rhodes played a significant role in preserving the Rusk, Texas theater that kindled her passion for acting.
The shared factor? Many musicians attribute their accomplishments to transforming into Taylor Swift tribute artists. And they’re not the only ones. Dawn, Beresford, Eden, and Rhodes are part of a rising group using their likeness, skill, passion, or fandom to earn a living, progress their careers, help others, and even save lives.
All the performers are driven by a common goal – providing an affordable or obtainable version of Taylor Swift’s $2 billion Eras Tour for the multitude of Swift fans who were unable to purchase or secure tickets.
For Eden, attending just one concert of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” was enough to convince her that every fan should witness the show. Speaking with THR, the 34-year-old Texan said, “The Eras Tour left me in awe. It transformed my life and left me speechless because it’s a magnificent work that demonstrates how Taylor caters to her fans. We craved these songs as we navigated high school, heartbreak, and life. Afterward, I was convinced everyone should experience the Eras Tour, but the exorbitant prices made this a challenge. So, I thought, ‘What can I do?’
Eden had never shown much interest in pop music, as she spent her younger years singing in church and continued this practice after studying music. However, a friend sent her “Tolerate It” in the year 2020, which introduced her to Taylor Swift’s healing music, prompting her to attend the concert and start Lover: The Unofficial Eras Tour. This move required an initial investment of $150,000 for expenses such as costumes, sound equipment, creating backing tracks, designing visuals, booking over 100 performances, and leaving her job in wealth management.
In this version, I have attempted to simplify the sentence structure while keeping the original meaning intact.
Rhodes, like Swift, originated from Texas churches but ventured into theater, eventually gracing stages in Las Vegas productions such as Absinthe. Her likeness to Swift was often pointed out by onlookers, leading her to do lookalike appearances. “Then people started asking, ‘Can you sing some songs?'” Rhodes recounts.
Rhodes made her mark in the Vegas show Country Superstars portraying Swift, followed by her initial tribute concert at the 2013 Alabama State Fair, which birthed her current production, Twist on Taylor. She was even asked to read the Cats trailer as Swift, potentially letting Swift hear Rhodes’ voice. “They wanted to give Taylor an idea of what they wanted, so she could decide if she’d participate,” Rhodes explains.
Rhodes is the longest-running Taylor Swift tribute act that THR spoke with, with Dawn emerging five years after Rhodes. Growing up in her New Hampshire home, Dawn would dance around singing “Part of My World” from The Little Mermaid. Vocal lessons from her father, Donald, who had long harbored his own musical aspirations, further honed her talents.
She took leading roles in shows such as “Guys and Dolls,” yet it was a Matchbox Twenty concert at age 15 that significantly impacted her life. This event led not only to her dating the band’s guitarist, Kyle Cook (celebrating eight years together in August), but also inspired her to explore a career in the pop/rock music scene. She eventually earned a degree in songwriting from Berklee College of Music and pursued singing, initially finding it challenging to be the main focus. After moving to Las Vegas, she discovered a passion for backing vocals.
Initially, Dawn’s excitement over securing a dream role in Legends in Concert quickly transformed into anxiety when she was required to dance. “My only previous experience with dancing goes back to two weeks of ballet when I was 6 years old,” Dawn recalls, “and I was far from graceful.” To overcome her lack of skill, Dawn took home rehearsal tapes and dedicated an additional eight hours each day to practice diligently.
The irony: “Taylor isn’t great at dancing, and I used to be clumsy like her before my performance. Fast forward to when I began performing as Taylor, the choreographer said, ‘You’re too good on stage. Tone it down!’
As a fervent admirer reminiscent of Taylor Swift, I’ve often been complimented with comparisons to the legendary singer. However, despite these repeated invitations, I’ve consistently declined the opportunity to impersonate her. That is, until a financially enticing offer came my way, following the purchase of a home dedicated to a rabbit rescue and caring for my 26 adorable Vegas-bound bunnies. The funds from this offer would undeniably help in ensuring their wellbeing and happiness.
Cook persuaded Dawn to accept the job offer, which later prompted her to make a change and concentrate on the flower farm she established during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Eras Tour sparked an influx of tribute requests, so even though Dawn usually prefers background singing, as heard on Matchbox Twenty’s 2023 album, Where the Light Goes, she has performed over 200 tribute shows. She views these performances as a means for saving animals, funding their food, and assisting with the farm’s expenses.
On the other hand, Beresford is one of the rare artists who was a passionate Swift fan before emulating her. Swift greatly impacted Beresford during her songwriting years, but she eventually ventured into the contrasting realms of forensic psychology and palliative care. She then formed a band with her brother Brendan, The Beresfords, and was soon invited to join a Swift tribute band.
She was concerned that the performance could hinder her musical dreams, but found herself unable to refuse, moved by Taylor Swift’s tour for “Speak Now”. She expressed, “It’s incredible to stand there, sing and compose songs about your own experiences. Watching her do it made me think, ‘I want that so much.’
In her initial performance, Beresford, aged 32, grappled with feelings of being a fraud, often associated with imposter syndrome. However, she has since flourished and shines brilliantly in her stage production titled Taylor’s Story.
The amount of time, money, and energy that women invest off-stage can be astonishingly large at times. For instance, Dawn shared that for a 20-minute performance, she needs to spend around 60 to 80 hours preparing – this includes rehearsals and hair styling, which is equivalent to almost two weeks of full-time work. Moreover, it’s not just about the time but also the cost; her haircuts alone range from $150 to $300. If Taylor Swift decides to go blonder all of a sudden, that could empty Dawn’s wallet.
I must be careful with my diet since if I’m stuffed up, I can’t produce the required sound. Running a mile helps me open up my lungs and prepare them for cardio exercise. I warm up and stretch beforehand. I need an additional income specifically for chiropractic care after playing Taylor – it’s no joke!
Dawn takes care to keep her weight steady, remembering the time when she unexpectedly built up a lot of muscle while tending to her Cottage Hill Flower Farm and found that her pants were too tight.
In Manchester, United Kingdom, tribute artist Xenna Kristian has mastered swift 30-second wardrobe transformations. “I’m always studying her videos to stay in tune with her traits,” says Kristian, who was frequently compared to Swift during college and eventually developed her Miss Americana and The Eras Experience shows. “I grab bits of her dance moves, then collaborate with a choreographer to infuse our unique style.
Indeed, costumes play a crucial role, and they aren’t inexpensive. Dawn has splurged approximately $10,000 on her outfits, with a hand-stitched Midnights bodysuit from Vietnam priced at $1,300. The crystals adorning Rhodes’ Lover bodysuit are valued at $2,000. Furthermore, when Swift introduced The Tortured Poets Department into her performance, it cost Eden around $6,000 for wardrobe and props.
Moreover, the additional luggage fees are a concern too! Dawn requires an entire suitcase for her large, white costume from the “Tortured Poets Department”. Once, in a rush, she vacuum-sealed it for her trip to Canada, only to forget about the vacuum for the return journey. She ended up attempting to reuse the vacuum to compress the dress and make it fit!
Taylor Swift’s representatives have asked the musicians to make it clear that they are not associated with Taylor Swift on promotional items. Although they’ve faced harsh criticism, mainly from adult men, Taylor Swift fans, also known as Swifties, have shown tremendous support. (Dawn added that the harsh remarks usually come from adult males.)
Many people are thankful for having the opportunity to experience Eras, as they previously missed out due to financial constraints, ticket battles, or being overlooked on the tour itinerary. In New Zealand, where fans traveled to Australia for performances, the desire persists to such an extent that two tribute tours are planned this year – Beresford with “Taylor’s Story” and Josette Klausen, who will be touring New Zealand in November. The New Zealand musician has also performed in South Africa, another location Swift chose not to visit.
In England, Kristian is often appreciated by parents for providing an affordable experience similar to Eras, which is greatly enjoyed by their children. Dawn also finds young Swifties delightful – they exchange friendship bracelets and display “I love you” signs. As Dawn explains, many of these kids can’t afford Taylor Swift concert tickets, so this is the only Taylor Swift experience they will have.
Tiffany Marie Beatrice noticed the exuberance of children at the tribute concert titled “Let’s Sing Taylor.” She expressed, “The most memorable moment for me was witnessing young girls who missed out on the Eras Tour. They were shouting, singing, dancing, dressed up, and brimming with excitement, as if it were Taylor herself. It stirred a similar emotion in us because it transported us back to when we had the opportunity to attend the tour.
Eden becomes emotional when talking about the significance of being a “placeholder” for Swift, as it brings back poignant memories such as the audience shouting, “Where you going, Taylor?” during “Bejeweled”, which is reminiscent of the enthusiasm fans show at Swift’s concerts.
However, the most valued benefit has been her personal development and expanded opportunities in her profession. Due to fans asking about her compositions, she incorporated her own tunes into her performance repertoire. Interestingly, she published a single called “Be Yourself” prior to adopting Taylor Swift’s style.
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The best reward has been her professional advancement and exposure. Thanks to audience members inquiring about her music, she started performing her own songs. Surprisingly, she launched a track titled “Be Yourself” before emulating Swift.
Eden expresses that before embarking on this intricate act of impersonation, she felt secure knowing she was cherished for who she genuinely is. She didn’t aspire to a career that might trigger an identity struggle, yet many aspects of Taylor resonate with her naturally. This experience has allowed her to discover hidden talents and passions within herself, such as her love for dancing and spending time with children, which she wasn’t aware of before.
Rhodes explains that mastering crowd control in events of 12,000 people has been beneficial for other performances, such as her Spice Girls tribute act. On the other hand, Kristian and Beresford attribute their newfound confidence to embodying Swift. “My band remarks it’s been enjoyable witnessing me evolve as a performer and discover my true identity as an individual,” says Beresford.
However, their individual lives aren’t the only ones that have been significantly affected. While Dawn is tirelessly working on animal rescue missions, Rhodes, who stands to earn thousands per performance and has over 100 shows booked for 2024, as well as the same number for 2025, played a crucial role in saving her hometown theater by organizing a fundraising event when it was in dire need of a new roof.
Eden, who makes approximately $20,000 for each performance (65% of which is spent on costs such as paying dancers and purchasing costumes), contributes some of the proceeds from meet-and-greet events to charity: water and the anti-sex trafficking organization Rescue Her.
I can’t help but see a reflection of Swift’s compassionate heart in these charitable actions, showcasing how initiatives like Dawn and Eden aim to magnify the immense impact of her lasting influence.
Eden expresses, “I really hope Taylor appreciates my actions as an extension of the happiness she spreads throughout the world. There’s just so much kindness and generosity associated with Taylor Swift and her fans (Swifties). Being able to grow and build upon that positive movement means more to me than anything.
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2025-06-13 00:56