--- description: 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 title: How Taylor Swift Turns Heartbreak Into Huge Hits image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt38fcfcfed714eeed/69889622fb4eac3a2988dc50/taylor-swift-calvin-harris.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Entertainment](/section/entertainment/) ## Entertainment Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # How Taylor Swift Turns Heartbreak Into Huge Hits by [Polina Marinova / Fortune](/author/fortune/) ## Polina Marinova / Fortune Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 2, 2016 11:27 PM CUT  Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, 2015. Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 17, 2015.Kevin Winter—BMA2015/Getty Images for dcp by [Polina Marinova / Fortune](/author/fortune/) ## Polina Marinova / Fortune Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 2, 2016 11:27 PM CUT Now that we’ve all had time to recover from the initial shock of the Taylor Swift-Calvin Harris [breakup news](http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20981907%5F21010217,00.html "undefined"), 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](http://fortune.com/2015/06/22/apple-taylor-swift/ "undefined"). She was on three_Fortune_ lists for her business savvy, including [World’s Greatest Leaders](http://fortune.com/2015/03/26/taylor-swift-greatest-female-leader/ "undefined"), [Most Powerful Women](http://fortune.com/most-powerful-women/taylor-swift-51/ "undefined"), and [40 Under 40](http://fortune.com/40-under-40/taylor-swift-6/ "undefined"). 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”**  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”**  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”**  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”**  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”**  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 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_](http://fortune.com/2016/06/02/taylor-swift-calvin-harris-break-up-business/ "undefined") _originally appeared on_ [_Fortune.com_](http://fortune.com "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4355981/taylor-swift-calvin-harris-hits-breakup/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4355981/taylor-swift-calvin-harris-hits-breakup/"},"headline":"How Taylor Swift Turns Heartbreak Into Huge Hits","datePublished":"2016-06-02T23:27:29.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:59:56.238Z","description":"Her break-up with Calvin Harris could take her career to new heights","url":"https://time.com/4355981/taylor-swift-calvin-harris-hits-breakup/","keywords":["Music"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt38fcfcfed714eeed/69889622fb4eac3a2988dc50/taylor-swift-calvin-harris.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Polina Marinova / Fortune"}],"articleSection":"Entertainment","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt38fcfcfed714eeed/69889622fb4eac3a2988dc50/taylor-swift-calvin-harris.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"2015 Billboard Music Awards - Backstage And Audience","caption":"LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 17: Musician Taylor Swift and musician Calvin Harris attend the 2015 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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