How Taylor Swift Turns Heartbreak Into Huge Hits

2 minute read

Now that we’ve all had time to recover from the initial shock of the Taylor Swift-Calvin Harris breakup news, it’s time for a reality check: The pop mega-star (and her brand) will be completely fine, if not stronger.

For the past 15 months, Swift had a seemingly perfect relationship with the international DJ. But something bigger happened during that time—Swift transformed from a talented entertainer into a veritable business powerhouse. She took on Apple and forced the tech giant to change the way Apple Music compensates musicians. She was on threeFortune lists for her business savvy, including World’s Greatest Leaders, Most Powerful Women, and 40 Under 40. Most recently, she became the first female artist to win two Grammys for Album of the Year with her album 1989, the fastest-selling album of the past decade.

When reports of the breakup surfaced Wednesday, there was immediate speculation about how her time with Harris might inspire her next song. If history is any indication, then we could expect a powerful new hit in the near future.

Here’s a look at some of Swift’s biggest hits and the the ex-boyfriends that are widely believed to have inspired them.

“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Taylor Swift performs at the switch on of the 2012 Christmas lights at Westfield on November 6, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Taylor Swift attends the Country Music Hall Of Fame Museum's "All For The Hall" in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2010; Jake Gyllenhaal at the "Love And Other Drugs" Press Conference in New York on Nov. 6, 2010.John Shearer—Getty Images;Vera Anderson—Getty Images

Ex-boyfriend: Jake Gyllenhaal, Actor
Billboard ranking: #1
Music video views: 391 million


“Style”

Celebrity Sightings - Bauer-Griffin - 2012
Taylor Swift and Harry Styles are seen walking around Central Park in New York on Dec.02, 2012.David Krieger—Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

Ex-boyfriend: Harry Styles, Singer/Songwriter
Billboard ranking: #6
Music video views: 420 million


“Back to December”

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner sighting at the Alice+Olivia Boutique on Robertson Blvd. on October 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage)
Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner sighting at the Alice+Olivia Boutique on Robertson Blvd. in Los Angeles on Oct. 28, 2009.Jean Baptiste Lacroix—WireImage/Getty Images

Ex-boyfriend: Taylor Lautner, Actor
Billboard ranking: #6
Music video views: 132 million


“Begin Again”

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 06: Taylor Swift performs at the switch on of the 2012 Christmas lights at Westfield on November 6, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Taylor Swift performs at the switch on of the 2012 Christmas lights at Westfield in London on Nov. 6, 2012; Conor Kennedy attends the "Ethel" New York Premiere at the Time Warner Center in New York on Oct. 15, 2012.Dave J Hogan—Getty Images;Stephen Lovekin—WireImage

Ex-boyfriend: Conor Kennedy, JFK’s Nephew
Billboard ranking: #7
Music video views: 103 million


“Forever & Always”

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 07: Singers Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at Paramount Pictures Studios on September 7, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Singers Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards at Paramount Pictures Studios in Los Angeles on Sept. 7, 2008.Jeff Kravitz—FilmMagic/Getty Images

Ex-boyfriend: Joe Jonas, Singer/Songwriter
Billboard ranking: #34
Music video views: No official video released


“Dear John”

John Mayer and Taylor Swift perform onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball 2009 presented by H&M at Madison Square Garden on December 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
John Mayer and Taylor Swift perform onstage during Z100's Jingle Ball 2009 presented by H&M at Madison Square Garden in New York on Dec. 11, 2009.Theo Wargo—WireImage

Ex-boyfriend: John Mayer, Singer/Songwriter
Billboard ranking: #54
Music video views: No official video released

This article originally appeared on Fortune.com

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