John Rich Talks Writing With Taylor Swift

John Rich was Taylor Swift's co-writer on 'The Way I Loved You,' a track on Swift's sophomore album about a volatile love affair. We asked the 35-year-old Rich if he had to think back to his adolesence when finding common ground to write about with the 19-year-old star.

"Sure there's an age difference," Rich told The Boot. "But she knows herself and her audience very well, and she's so connected to who that audience is. She knows she's still a kid and embraces it. She writes things that are important to her. If she breaks up with a boyfriend, that's traumatic to her, and she'll write about it. Just like if I'm pissed off at the news, I'll write 'Shuttin' Detroit Down.' But we respect that about each other."

Rich has written with some of the heaviest hitters in Nashville's songwriting community and calls Swift "one of my favorites." But he's yet to write with his ultimate country idol.

"I want to write and record and album with Garth Brooks," he told us. "If Garth would ever allow me to record him, to write a couple of songs and just stomp a hole through the floor in the studio with him, that would be a really big deal to me. I think he'd like me if he ever got to know me ... Maybe if he reads this interview, he'll give me a call!"