Daily Herald opinion: A Naperville holiday display shows the power of a celebrity's positive influence
If you're not a Swiftie, you're probably sick and tired of hearing about Taylor Swift.
She has infiltrated the NFL.
She's Spotify's Top Artist of 2023.
She's Apple Music's Artist of the Year.
She hit billionaire status in October.
Her Eras Tour is set to become the highest-grossing global tour of all time. And her Eras Tour movie had a record-breaking opening weekend, raking in $92.8 million.
Will it ever stop?
Not if one Naperville family has anything to do with it.
Amy and Brian Scott have decked out their house in all things T Swift. While fans love it, others might be rolling their eyes at the over-the-top display, wishing everything Taylor would disappear for good. But with the pop star comes a lot of good. Swift is known for her grand gestures helping others. It's one of the many reasons fans love her. She encourages love, acceptance and joy. Her positive message, music and epic tour have brought together friends, strangers, teens and their parents and now a suburban community, thanks to this holiday display.
Naperville has rallied around the Scotts' themed house, embracing the entertaining decor and optimistic energy associated with the singer.
Swifties congregating outside the house share stories about attending Swift's concerts, and the Scott family has asked neighborhood kids to make friendship bracelets - another unifying and upbeat Taylor Swift trend - to hand out to visitors.
Amy, Brian and their daughters encourage everyone to bring their own friendship bracelets to trade with others and to consider donating to Little Friends, a Naperville nonprofit agency that serves adults and children with autism.
Sure, the Scotts are having fun with their holiday decorations and proclaiming their love for all things T Swift. But they are also using their display to spread a message of generosity during the holidays. And what's more appropriate than that?
So, you may find Swift silly. You may never want to hear her name again or see her cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs during Monday Night Football. And you may not understand fans' obsession with her and her every move.
But think also of Beatlemania, Elvis, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Beyoncé and so many other superstars whose fundamental message has often been distorted outside their fan base by popular clichés of celebrities as self-absorbed and spoiled.
And before you roll your eyes at T Swift's infiltration of yet another American institution, the newspaper editorial, consider the spirit she represents for so many and the people she's uniting across the country, the world and now Naperville and the suburbs.
Swiftie or not, stop by the Scotts' house at 1228 Atlas Drive. Chuckle at the Travis Kelce reference. Watch kids' eyes light up as they take in the fun Taylor Swift references and spot her albums decorating the lawn. Appreciate the hard work that went into assembling the display. Embrace the holiday vibes, and donate to Little Friends.
And then maybe, just maybe, spread a little bit of that Taylor Swift joy by wishing someone a very Merry Swiftmas!