Entertainment Awards Shows and Events Grammys Texas Woman Spends 90th Birthday at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Paris, Reveals Story Behind Favorite Song (Exclusive) Nancy Strong says she has "looked up to" Swift since her now-notorious appearance at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards By Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee Virginia Chamlee is a Politics Writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE for three years. Her work has previously appeared in The Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Eater, and other outlets. People Editorial Guidelines Published on June 17, 2024 12:51PM EDT Nancy Strong, Taylor Swift. Photo: Nancy Strong; Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty A Texas woman spent her 90th birthday in style — traveling to Paris to attend Taylor Swift's Eras Tour concert. Nancy Strong has gone viral since sharing her experience on Instagram, in a short video clip that shows the 90-year-old clad in sequins and singing at the top of her lungs. Nancy, who owns and continues to run a travel agency based in Dallas, Texas, tells PEOPLE that her journey to celebrating in Paris was sparked in large part by her two granddaughters, who she calls "true Swifties." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Nancy Strong. Nancy Strong Cat Owner Creates Purr-fect Taylor Swift Eras Tour Costumes for Her 4-Legged Swiftie "This all started with my granddaughters, Jennifer Strong and Brianne Strong, true Swifties," Nancy tells PEOPLE. "They said to me, 'Grammy, we are going to Paris together to see Taylor Swift.' " And while tickets to the show have been in notoriously high demand, the trio managed to secure entry during a late-night computer session. "We were on the computer in the middle of the night and managed to obtain five tickets at a reasonable price," Nancy says, adding: "Our little party grew when my son Jim Strong and friend David Davis chimed in." Nancy Strong. Nancy Strong Once in France, Nancy and her granddaughters spent their vacation in style, staying at one of Paris' most luxe hotels (partially in hopes that they might see Swift herself). "Jennifer and I stayed at the Bulgari Hotel in Paris thinking that Taylor Swift might be in the penthouse — at last no luck," she jokes. And while it was her granddaughters who urged her to take the trip, Nancy admits she is also a Swiftie at heart. "I have been a Swiftie for over 10 years," she says. "She grabbed my attention in 2009 at the VMAs during the Kanye West scandal. She handled that situation with such grace and I have looked up to her ever since." As for her favorite Swift song, Nancy is quick to respond. "My favorite song is 'The Man.' Why? I am a woman who started a business in the 1970’s in a male oriented world, 'wondering if I could get there quicker if I was a man,' " she says. "These lyrics really hit home for me." Nancy adds that she also has a personal connection with Swift, having raised some of her children in the same place where the pop icon grew up. "I love that Taylor is always herself and very natural. She was brought up in Reading, Pennsylvania, where I raised five boys in the 60s," Nancy says. "Reading will always have a special place in my heart." Nancy Strong. Nancy Strong A true Texas woman, Nancy was eager to go to the Eras tour, in part, to dress up, donning a lavender sequined top with matching pants. "Well, let’s face it, if you are going to a Taylor Swift concert, the more bling-bling you can put on, the better," Nancy says, adding that she believes Taylor herself would appreciate the ensemble. "It appears 'lavender haze' is one of her favorite colors. When I saw the lavender sequin top, I had to have it for the concert." I Went to Opening Weekend of the Eras Tour — Here's What to Wear to Taylor Swift's Concert While the top was ordered online from London, the rest of the outfit was Nancy, through and through. "I bought the satin pants at NorthPark Mall in Dallas. Lastly, I never go anywhere without my cowboy boots, a true Texan!" Nancy, whose travel agency has been in business for 50 years, tells PEOPLE that the secret to her youthful attitude is, simply, "that there is no secret." "My life has been extremely full, I have a large family who have been loving and supportive of me," she says. "I am blessed with good health and high energy. I enjoy life and look forward to the adventure each day brings." Close