Nashville recently celebrated the return of its hometown hero, Taylor Swift, by dedicating a park bench to the American artist. The bench, located in Centennial Park, features a plaque that reads, “For Taylor Swift. A bench for you to read on Centennial Park. Welcome home, Nashville.”
The dedication was accompanied by a proclamation from Mayor John Cooper, who said, “Over the last several months, cities nationwide have been welcoming Taylor Swift into their backyards, but here in Nashville, we have the distinct honor of being able to welcome her back to her own.”
The plaque’s inscription is a nod to the lyrics of Swift’s song “Invisible String” from her album “Folklore.” The song includes the lyrics, “Green was the color of the grass/Where I used to read at Centennial Park/I used to think I would meet somebody there.”
Mayor Cooper went on to say, “This honorary bench in Centennial Park is more than simply a place to sit. It is a monument to Nashville and Taylor Swift’s long-standing relationship, and a reminder that she is always welcome back home.”
Butch Spyridon, the CEO of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, also expressed his appreciation for Swift’s contributions to the city’s culture, saying, “Nashville will always be home for Taylor in our eyes. We know all too well the significant role she has played elevating our Music City brand as a songwriter, artist and global superstar, and welcoming her back in an only-in-Nashville way is an honor.”
Swift, who has recently been re-recording her early albums in a highly publicized battle over the rights to her original recordings, has not commented publicly on the dedication. However, the gesture is sure to be appreciated by her legions of fans in Nashville and around the world.
