On tour with Taylor Swift

Andrea Swift: We're leaving for rehearsals.

Taylor Swift: Full day of rehearsals! Didn't know that we were filming? Right now.

Andrea Swift: Let's go!

April 5

It's less than three weeks until her tour kicks off and Taylor Swift is walking into dress rehearsals, but this time it's for The Academy Of Country Music Awards, where she's nominated for three awards, including  album of the year. And she is ecstatic.

And the winner for album of the year... Taylor Swift: “Fearless.”

Taylor Swift: I freaked out. In this room, we have a person who has written songs with me since I was 14 years old and it was no profit to you because I didn't have a record deal and people thought you were crazy, but you... We have Scott Borchetta, who signed us to the record deal, who lets me write my own songs… And the fans aren't here but thanks to them and everyone else in this room, I love you guys so much.  We just won album of the year!

@taylorswift13: still smiling about the acms. back to nashville for rehearsals...

What a rush for a girl who was discovered just a few years ago. And look where she is now.

13 days till tour kick-off

Taylor Swift: Just arrived at rehearsals. I'm about to go do Pilates and I'm going to do that with the whole band and then we have rehearsals all day... This tour is my baby. I'm just so excited about every angle from seeing that stage go from a drawing that I drew to seeing it 20 feet in the air--

Yup, that's right. Taylor Swift designed this elaborate stage herself, complete with a hidden elevator, collapsible turrets, and, quick change rooms for her 8 costume changes.

Hoda Kotb: This is the secret changing room?

Taylor Swift: During the actual show, there will be racks and racks and racks.

Hoda Kotb: so you see it all in your mind?

Taylor Swift: Yeah, I just spend all my time organizing it in my head. It's just so much fun for me to think of the song the way people think of it on the record and turn it into a completely different thing for the live show.

Hoda Kotb: Cool effects?

Taylor Swift: Well, the cool thing about this stage is that it's a giant projector screen. The stage is different for every single song.

If there's any doubt that a teenager can lead a major tour, Taylor puts all naysayers to shame.  From business decisions, to animated projections, to chord progressions, this 19-year-old is in charge of every aspect of her tour.

Andrea Swift: Every single decision that's made, whether it's talking about artwork that's gonna go on the side of the buses for the tour or a script that needs to be read, you know, almost invariably, someone in the room says, "Have you checked with Taylor?"

April 10, Nashville, Tenn.

Jen: When do you want her at rehearsals?

Taylor Swift: At least a day ahead of time. So she knows her queues. She's coming up on a lift and she needs to know when...

Hoda Kotb: Is it hard to make your vision come out exactly the way you want it?

Taylor Swift: There are times when you get frustrated, but the one thing you always focus on is treating people well. You just cannot storm off and freak out. People don't take you seriously if you scream, if you raise your voice, especially when you're a 19-year-old girl.

Taylor's band is made up of all types of musicians - among them a hard rock lover, a fiddler and a banjo player. While their musical tastes may differ, they all agree on one thing:

Caitlin Evanson, fiddler: Taylor's a 40-year old in a 19-year old's body. She's made and meant to be doing what she's doing. She knows how to lead the room and lead the stage. And she knows how to do it too without being some task master.

Video   Meet Caitlin Fiddler Caitlin tells us how old Taylor Swift really is. Dateline NBC

Taylor Swift: I don't know about that, maybe between the first one and the second one. I think more kickdrum related. More the kick rather than the cymbal.

At times she may look frustrated -- but Taylor's strive for perfection only makes the people who work with this young star respect her that much more.

Paul Sudoti, guitarist: There's been times where I've played a solo, and then she'll say "Well, can you kind of do this" and she'll sing me a melody and I'll incorporate that and that's very impressive for someone her age.

Taylor Swift: The problem that I was having with the solo is that it's like its getting a little noodley, like its (sound). I'd rather it be like ner-ner-ner-ner-ner. less, less notes.  That would be great. Let's try it again.

Paul Sudoti: That was totally along the right lines. 

Taylor Swift: Awesome, y'all wanna break for lunch? 

One minute she's the woman in charge, the next, just a regular kid.

MORE FROM NEWSMAKERS

Newsmakers Section Front

NBC's People of the Year: Read the interviews Vote: Who do you think is person of the year? Secrets Of The Lost Symbol Read an excerpt from 'The Lost Symbol' The Michael Jackson Tapes Michael Jackson: ‘I am scared of my father’ Back to Woodstock Kidnapped Heiress: The Patty Hearst Story On tour with Taylor Swift See behind-the-scenes web videos of Taylor Swift Newsmakers Section Front   Add Newsmakers headlines to your news reader: