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Who is Taylor Swift's Childhood Best Friend, Abigail Anderson Berard?
- Angela Tam
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Abigail Anderson Berard is the real-life "Abigail" from Taylor Swift's song "Fifteen" — and the betting-market favourite for maid of honour at her wedding. Here's her full story.
She and Taylor Met on the First Day of High School
Swift and Anderson met as freshmen at Hendersonville High School in Tennessee in 2004, seated next to each other in English class. They became fast friends and have remained close for more than two decades since.
She's the "Abigail" in "Fifteen"
Swift's 2008 song "Fifteen," from her album Fearless, is directly about their friendship, including the line about a "redhead named Abigail" and a reference to Anderson's first heartbreak. Anderson appeared in the song's music video, and Swift has periodically dedicated live performances of the song to her, including a surprise-song moment during the Eras Tour's Nashville stop in 2023. Anderson was also referenced by name in "Ruin the Friendship," a track from Swift's 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl.
She Was a Competitive Swimmer
Before their paths diverged professionally, Anderson pursued competitive swimming, eventually swimming at the University of Kansas. Swift has said the two originally imagined dramatically different futures for themselves — one a swimmer, one a singer — and ended up staying just as close regardless.
She Has Her Own Career in Corporate Development
Away from the spotlight, Anderson works as chief of staff of corporate development at Celero Commerce, a business management software company based near Nashville, where she focuses on mergers and acquisitions. Before that, she worked in communications for a veterans' advocacy organisation.
She Became a Mother in 2024
Anderson was previously married to photographer Matt Lucier before the two divorced. She married her current husband, Charles "Charlie" Berard, in 2022. Swift was part of Anderson's bridal party at her earlier wedding, a role many expect will be reversed this wedding weekend.
Anderson and her husband welcomed their first child, a son, in August 2024, announcing the pregnancy and birth on Instagram with references to Swift's own lyrics — a nod fans immediately picked up on.
She's the Betting-Market Favourite for Maid of Honour
As speculation over Taylor's bridal party has turned into an actual betting market, Anderson has consistently led the odds on platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, with figures above 80% for her to be a bridesmaid — and among the top picks for maid of honour specifically.