Taylor Swift: Singer, Songwriter, Headliner, Designer, … Outcast?

It’s hard to believe Taylor Swift was once an outcast, but the teen country sensation reveals she was once shunned by her schoolmates.

“I had a group of friends when I was about 12,” she recalls in the upcoming TV special, ‘Katie Couric’s All Access Grammy Special.’ “They all just decided they didn’t wanna hang out with me anymore. I would go and sit down at the lunch table with my friends. And they would get up and move their trays to another table.”

But Swift admits she might not have a career if it hadn’t been for those kids.

“Had [they] kept me in their group and I had been the most popular girl in middle school, I would never have been inspired to write one song,” she says.

After her candid interview, Swift plays guitar for Couric on the special show, set to air February 4 at 9 PM ET on CBS. The two also visit a New York City boutique for a little shopping (pictured above). The ‘All Access Grammy Special’ will also feature segments with Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Katy Perry and more of music’s hottest acts.

In other Taylor news, the 19-year-old will kick off her first headlining tour April 23 in Evansville, Ind. Kellie Pickler will open all shows on the 50-city trek, along with hot new group Gloriana. Ticket prices for the shows will start at just $20.

“I want to be sure that everyone has the opportunity to come see my show, so we have affordable tickets available for every date we do this year,” Swift tells USA Today.

In staying sensitive to tough economic times, Swift has also launched a low-cost line of sundresses for Walmart. Those prices start at just $14. See photos of the dresses here.