How Taylor Swift Turns Heartbreak Into Huge Hits

Kevin Winter — Getty Images

Her break-up with Calvin Harris could take her career to new heights.

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”

Singer Taylor Swift and actor Jake Gyllenhaal briefly dated back in 2010.Photographs by John Shearer & Vera Anderson/WireImage via 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 on December 02, 2012 in New York City.Photography by David Krieger/Bauer-Griffin GC Images

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

“Back to December”

Columbus Blue Jackets v Los Angeles Kings

Taylor Lautner and Taylor Swift attend an NHL game.Photograph by Andrew D. Bernstein/NHLI via Getty Images

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

“Begin Again”

Conor Kennedy and Taylor Swift had a short summer romance in 2012 that lasted 3 months.Photographs by Steven Lovekin/WireImage & Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

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

“Forever & Always”

2008 MTV Video Music Awards - Backstage and Audience

Singers Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas at the 2008 MTV Video Music AwardsPhoto by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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

“Dear John”

Z100's Jingle Ball 2009 Presented by H&M - Show

John Mayer and Taylor Swift perform onstage during Z100’s Jingle Ball 2009.Photograph by Theo Wargo/WireImage

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

Jane the Virgin Season Finale Recap: The Wedding of Jane Gloriana Villanueva

Ivonne Coll as Alba, Gina Rodriquez as Jane, Andrea Navedo as Xo. If I could write this whole recap with emojis, there'd be several varieties of hearts, the running man, the dancing woman, and lots and lots of fires and heart-eyed faces. Those creepy dancing twin girls would also make an appearance. And there'd be a gun. My imaginary emoji recap is appealing because it's incredibly hard to come away from a blockbuster hour of television like "Chapter Forty-Four" and pull together coherent thoughts that aren't just "AHHH!" or "WHY would you get ICE for the DAMN CHAMPAGNE?!" or "OMG FACE OFF MASK!" or "Why isn't all of life just Jane and Rogelio doing that father/daughter dance forever?" But I'll give it a try. Jane the Virgin 's season finale is a narrative fireworks display, a shock-and-awe storytelling spectacular that short-circuits emotional processing centers with blazing confidence. It drops j

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