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The Research Behind the Reputation: TCU’s Dr. Ledbetter Maps the Science of Taylor Swift’s Storytelling

Dec 17, 2025

1 min

Andrew Ledbetter


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At Texas Christian University, Dr. Andrew Ledbetter, Chair of the Communication Studies Department, is turning his scholarly attention to one of pop culture’s biggest phenomena: Taylor Swift.


His research uses data-driven analysis to reveal how Swift’s albums and songs build an interconnected narrative universe — what he calls her “Taylorverse.” Ledbetter ran lyrics across ten albums through semantic-network software to show how certain songs act as linchpins connecting themes of fame, womanhood, love and storytelling.


“I was interested in interconnections among the song lyrics,” says Ledbetter. “The songs that are most central have a lot of overlap with other songs, might tend to be songs that are the most popular.”  November 03 0 NBC News




The work stands out not just for its pop-culture relevance, but for its academic innovation: combining computational text-analysis with narrative theory to unlock why certain tracks resonate more deeply than others.



For journalists, cultural commentators or anyone covering the evolving intersection of music, identity and media, Dr. Ledbetter is a go-to expert. He can speak to how storytelling in music shapes audience engagement, how media fandom becomes scholarship, and why Swift’s songwriting continues to spark new research just as much as chart-topping hits.


Andrew Ledbetter is available for interviews - Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

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Andrew Ledbetter

Andrew Ledbetter

Professor & Chair of Communication Studies

Andrew Ledbetter investigates how people use communication technology to maintain close ties with friends, family, and romantic partners.

Quantitative Research MethodsPsychological HealthFriendshipsCommunication TechnologySocial Media
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