Taylor Swift Named Ambassador For New York City

"She is the No. 1 global pop star in the world right now," he said in a phone interview Thursday. "She is a new New Yorker. She came to New York last spring. This is a new approach, all about the wonderment and excitement you have when you first come to New York City. To have this enthusiasm from a global superstar, who has given us her image and influence to promote New York City, is a gift. We are so grateful."

Heywood noted that a previous NYC & Co. campaign, "Just ask the locals," used New Yorkers like Robert De Niro and Cynthia Nixon.

 Swift was born and raised in Pennsylvania, moving to Nashville at age 14 to pursue country music. Last year she bought a $20 million apartment in Tribeca, a trendy downtown Manhattan neighborhood. Her new album, "1989," released Monday, is pure pop, marking a break with country.

Her appointment as global tourism ambassador coincided with the release of her single, "Welcome to New York," which is on track to sell 1 million copies in a week. She plans to donate proceeds from the song to city public schools, and is not being paid for the ambassador stint.

Not everyone's treating Swift the way the Red Sox are greeted by Yankee fans. The New York Post said in an editorial: "The Swift promotions are not aimed at New Yorkers. They're aimed at people who live elsewhere. These are people who won't sneer when Swift explains what a 'stoop' is or the right pronunciation of Houston Street."

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