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Taylor Swift replaced on iconic Nashville mural by Brad Paisley, furious fans trend 'Young Taylor Ran Country’

Some of the country's biggest superstars are featured in the 'Legends Corner'. After it was updated, Brad Paisley can be seen sitting on the stool where Taylor used to sit in a blue dress

In a hare-brained decision, Taylor Swift was bumped from Music City's iconic mural and replaced by Brad Paisley. That's right, the "Legends Corner" mural that had Taylor Swift seated at the table has erased her image. Her seat has now been taken over by country artiste Brad Paisely in an act of erasure that fans are calling "incredibly disrespectful". 

"Taylor Swift was the youngest artist (at the time) to win album of the year at the Grammys for 'Fearless'. 'Fearless' is the most awarded country album of all time. She won CMA Entertainer of the Year at 19 years old. This is so incredibly disrespectful. Young Taylor ran country," tweeted one fan.

When one user commented that she hasn't been country for awhile and is now a mainstream pop singer, another fan posted a PR news clipping about Swift's album 'Fearless' being the most awarded album in the "history of country music" and stated: "This alone the reason why she should be there".

Swift, a country music sensation-turned-pop star, has made immense contributions to the country music genre and propelled it into popular consciousness. So fittingly, she has been a part of the "Legends Corner" mural on Lower Broadway in Nashville for some time now.

Some of the country's biggest superstars are featured in this iconic mural, right next door to the Ryman Auditorium, including Willie Nelson and Dolly Parton. After it was updated, Brad Paisley can be seen sitting on the stool where Taylor used to sit in a blue dress. 

Incensed, one fan took to photoshopping the mural's image and replacing every country musician featured on it with Taylor Swift with the comment: "I fixed the mural. Young Taylor Ran Country".

The slogan "Young Taylor Ran Country" spread across Twitter to counter the erasure of Swift from the landmark spot devoted to the history of country music. Many fans shared screenshots of the news with comments like: "Taylor Swift did not become the first woman to be awarded the pinnacle award and contributed so much to country music only to be replaced on a Nashville mural, utter disrespect YOUNG TAYLOR RAN COUNTRY".

There were also comments about how unnecessary her erasure was especially since there was space left to include Brad Paisley. "Yes, there was space for both. But no, they literally removed THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, THE ARTIST OF THE DECADE. I just feel bad for them, bye. YOUNG TAYLOR RAN COUNTRY" 

Organizers say that Swift’s image has been "retired" and will be replaced by three new stars. Brad Paisley is the first, and there’s an outline of another woman on the far right — there is no news about who this could be or even who the third new artiste will be.

One tweet commented on the change saying it further skewed the representation of successful female artistes on the mural. "it's the way the mural had only four women and now they replaced taylor with another man..." while another said: "Taylor's 'Love Story' alone literally reintroduced female western country music to not only the US but Asia too, yet they're pretending she doesn't have a significant contribution to the genre pls...".

The question is will the social media outrage overturn the decision to erase Taylor from the mural or will it lead to a boycott of the landmark by Swifties and country music fans?