Topping it off: Taylor Swift gives hat to Hempfield girl at concert
Cost of two Taylor Swift tickets? $1,800.
Watching Taylor Swift give her hat to your daughter? Priceless.
“I can’t even believe this happened,” Renata Guarlotti said through a raspy voice after screaming during the Friday night concert. “It was surreal.”
The Hempfield woman and her 10-year-old daughter, Katie, had floor seats for Swift’s Friday night concert at Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. Dressed in a Swift T-shirt and a pink, sparkly skirt, with her wrists decorated with colorful bracelets, Katie was singing and dancing and smiling at every song.
About midway through the “Red” era with Swift singing the song “Enchanted,” a staff member tapped Guarlotti on the shoulder and invited her and Katie to the stage area.
The staff tour member said to Guarlotti, “You might want to video this.”
She did record the moment, and she and her brother posted about it on Facebook.
Near the end of the song “22,” Swift walked toward Katie, took off her hat, which is autographed, and placed it on Katie’s head. Katie removed a “Red”-era bracelet with gold beads and handed it to Swift, who put it on.
Swift fans often trade bracelets. Katie, who is going into fifth grade at Maxwell Elementary School, made all of her bracelets prior to the concert.
Katie turned toward her mom who was filming and beamed with joy.
“I think Taylor’s people look for fans enjoying the show and choose them for things like this,” Guarlotti said. “I think it was just a random thing.”
Guarlotti said the plan is to buy a glass case for the hat, although Katie said she wants to be able to hold the hat and touch it.
“I am a Swiftie,” said Katie. “It was such an amazing moment. I had a lot of fun. Taylor is such a sweet person. I love her music. Her songs have meaning to them.”
The concert tickets were a Christmas gift, Guarlotti said. She had trouble getting them the first day of the pre-sale because of a credit card issue but was able to purchase two the second day.
Swift fans are wonderful and everyone was so kind, Guarlotti said, and seeing 70,000 fans enjoying the evening was great. Just being at the concert would have been special, and the hat truly topped off the evening, she added.
“My daughter is thrilled,” she said. “This experience was absolutely magical.”
On stage, Katie said she felt like a celebrity.
“I told my mom to pinch me because I thought I was dreaming,” Katie said. “It was the best day of my life. I thanked my mom a million times for taking me.”
Related
• Photos: Thousands of Taylor Swift fans took in the show outside Acrisure Stadium
• Taylor Swift's 2nd night in Pittsburgh sets Acrisure Stadium attendance record
• Review: Taylor Swift shakes Acrisure with a show for the ages
• Photos: Taylor Swift dazzles in 1st of 2 Pittsburgh shows
• Taylor Swift Eras Tour outfits: Fans dress to the nines in styles with meaning behind the music
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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