Oh, say can she see! Years before she was singing about feeling “22,” Taylor Swift was a baby-faced 12-year-old girl, taking the stage to sing the national anthem.
The Pennsylvania native, now 24, showed off her impressive singing chops in 2002, when she grabbed a mic at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center. The then-unknown preteen gave an impressive rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
In a throwback video, which is making the rounds this week, an adorable Swift faces the crowd in an American flag-print outfit and red cardigan with a matching headband. She hits the high notes, getting a celebratory reaction from the audience.
The sweet performance took place years before Swift ever released a single. She made her official studio album debut at age 16 in October 2006, when her self-titled album hit stores.
The Grammy winner relocated to Nashville, Tenn. when she was 14 to pursue her singing dreams. She went on to nab a record deal with Big Machine — the label she is still a part of today.
Watch the “Blank Space” performer belt it in the video above!
