Bebe Rexha opened up about a time Taylor Swift reached out to help her after she struggled to find a designer willing to dress her for the 2019 Grammys. The pop superstar contacted Rexha after the “Meant to Be” singer shared her experience publicly, and Rexha remembered the gesture fondly during an interview on the VMAs red carpet on Sunday (Sept. 27).
“I couldn’t find a dress, and she had reached out to me because we’re the same age,” Rexha recalled to E! News. “I thought that was really, really, really kind of her.”
The 2019 Grammy Struggle
Rexha previously revealed that she had trouble securing a designer to dress her for the ceremony because of her body type. She said she could not find a dress, and Swift’s outreach stood out.
“I couldn’t find a dress, and she had reached out to me because we’re the same age,” Rexha said. “I thought that was really, really, really kind of her.”
“Nobody really reached out — like, some people did — but for her, at such a high level, to like, make me feel like I belong was really, really nice,” she said.
What Swift Said
Swift’s willingness to connect personally, despite her status, made the difference. The gesture came after Rexha shared her experience publicly, which prompted Swift to reach out directly.
The moment was a reminder of how much a simple human connection can mean in a business full of distance.
The VMAs Look
Rexha had no trouble making her presence known on the VMAs red carpet. The singer stepped out in an all-black Dreaming Eli look ahead of the event, where she was nominated for best dance for the track “New Religion” featuring Faithless.
Remembering Dolly Parton
While reminiscing about Swift’s kind gesture, Rexha also began remembering the late Dolly Parton. The country icon worked with Rexha on their 2023 collaboration “Seasons,” and Rexha recalled being struck by Parton’s star power, energy and kindness.
“She is the baddest b—h,” Rexha said, describing how Parton arrived on set in a corset, towering heels and her signature larger-than-life hair.
The Set Experience
Rexha joked that seeing Parton’s outfit made her question whether she had dressed up enough herself. But the memory of the session went far beyond the clothes.
“She was like the most energetic, kind, chill,” Rexha said. “I loved it … sometimes when you meet your idols, they kind of let you down. I’ve been in situations like that, but with her … she was amazing.”
A Meaningful Moment
Rexha’s account of Swift’s outreach carries weight because of how rare it was. The story is a small one, but it is a warm one. It shows what happens when a person with power chooses to use it to help someone else.
The Video
For those who want to hear Rexha tell the story in her own words, the full interview is available to watch online.
What We Know
- Rexha said Swift reached out to her because they are the same age.
- Rexha was unable to find a designer to dress her for the 2019 Grammys.
- Rexha wore an all-black Dreaming Eli look at the VMAs.
- She was nominated for best dance for “New Religion” featuring Faithless.
- Madonna’s “Confessions II — The Film” won the category.
- Rexha described Parton as energetic, kind and chill.
The Order of Events
- Rexha struggled to find a designer to dress her for the 2019 Grammys.
- She shared her experience publicly.
- Swift reached out to her.
- Rexha told E! News about the gesture on the VMAs red carpet.
- Rexha reflected on working with Parton while discussing Swift.
Rexha’s reflection on Swift and Parton shows that she values the people who treat her with respect, regardless of their fame. Those are lessons worth carrying forward, whether you are a star or just listening to one talk about her day.
The story ends where it began: with a singer who found a friend in a moment of need, and carried that memory forward for years afterward.
See the video the story is built around at Billboard.
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