Debbie Gibson, Taylor Swift

The “original pop princess,” Debbie Gibson recently shared her thoughts on the influential women shaping the industry today. In doing so, she made a bold declaration about Taylor Swift.

During an interview with Us Weekly published on Monday, May 27, Gibson opened up about how the music industry has changed for women today compared to when she rose to fame in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

“My late, great mom literally pounded her fists on the conference room table at Atlantic Records to drive the point home that a young girl could write and produce her own music,” Gibson told the publication. “Now look at Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift and everybody who’s come after.”

The singer, 53, went on to explain that no one was “warm and welcoming to female songwriters” when she started in the business. However, she said the “landscape has just opened wide up” today.

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Gibson also expressed her love for one of Swift’s new songs from her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.

“‘I Can Do It With a Broken Heart’ is my new anthem,” she declared. “I think a lot of us kind of live that, and showbiz women live it. It’s like we get on stage and we sing and dance, and then we go cry in a corner later about our personal life. She’s done so much to move the style forward and to empower women.”

Of course, Gibson isn’t the only celebrity to praise Swift for her musical talents, particularly since she embarked on her wildly popular Eras Tour in March 2023. Pearl Jam’s bassist Jeff Ament lauded the pop superstar for being willing to experiment with her style.

“I think she’s, you know, I think she’s not afraid to change and change in a way that maybe is kind of anti-pop in some ways, you know?” he said during an appearance on The Bill Simmons Podcast in early May. “Which is, I have huge props for that.”

And in March, Henry Cavill proudly declared he “was never not a Swiftie,” also calling the “Fortnight” singer “magnificent,” during an interview with E! News.