Taylor Swift sends gift and note to Don McLean after breaking his record
After Taylor Swift's new version of "All Too Well" broke the record for the longest track to top the Billboard Hot 100, she sent a gift to the artist who'd held the record for the past 50 years: singer/songwriter Don McLean.
McLean, whose 1971 hit "American Pie" ran 8 minutes and 36 seconds, was bested by Swift, with "All Too Well (Taylor's Version)" clocking in at 10:13.
McLean tweeted a photo of the flowers and letter that Swift sent him, and commented, "What a classy artist! Thank you @taylorswift13 for the flowers & note!"
In her letter, Swift wrote, "Don, I will never forget that I'm standing on the shoulders of giants. Your music has been so important to me. Sending love [from] one writer of LONG SONGS to another. Your fan, Taylor."
McLean, 76, said in a statement to ABC Audio last month, "'American Pie' remained on top for 50 years and now Taylor Swift has unseated such a historic piece of artistry. Let's face it, nobody ever wants to lose that #1 spot, but if I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor."
Swift's 10-minute-plus recording of "All Too Well" is featured as a bonus track on "Red (Taylor's Version)," which she released on Nov. 12.
