‘Legends' Version’ of Taylor Swift Tribute, 4th of July in Branson

“Swifties” of all ages can celebrate the 4th of July in America’s most patriotic city, Branson, Missouri, at a special performance limited engagement of “A Tribute to Taylor Swift Music (Legends’ Version)” scheduled for July 4th at 7 p.m. at the Pepsi Legends Theater. Presented by Legends in Concert and featuring the incredibly talented Elizabeth Burnett, this 90-minute show promises a fun-filled dance party experience for fans of all ages, complete with a dynamic live band and dancers and is designed as a world-class show mirroring Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

Elizabeth first performed in Branson in 2015 and has been kind enough to interview this writer on more than one occasion. In honor of her July 4th, 2025, Branson appearance, we thought it would be interesting to excerpt questions from her 2015 interview and then jump forward nine years to her 2024 appearance. The questions were asked by Gary Groman, “GG,” and answered by Elizabeth. “ES” for the 2015 interview and “EB” for the 2024 interview:

GG: When were you born?

ES: April 9, 1993

GG: Where?

ES: Charleston, SC.

GG: You have graduated from college fairly recently. Where and when?

ES: The University of South Carolina on May 11, 2015.

GG: What was your degree?

ES: Public Relations from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and a Minor in Spanish.

GG: How do you prefer your act to be categorized? i.e., impersonator, tribute artist, etc.

ES: I prefer tribute artist because everything we do is live, and we are proud of that.

GG: Were you singing and dancing before becoming interested in Taylor Swift?

ES: No.

GG: How old were you when you first became interested in Taylor Swift?

ES: I was 12 and heard her sing “Tim McGraw” in her first single on the radio.

GG: What was the first Taylor Swift song you did, and how many chords did you play?

ES: “Love Story,” and I played four chords.

GG: How did your first Taylor Swift guitar evolve?

ES: Well, I borrowed it from my church on non-returning grounds. It was an old guitar without strings that had been in a closet for over a year. My brother, who was with the Praise Team, said, “Take it and learn to play.” I took it, sanded it down, put silver glitter all over it to make it look like her diamond guitar, and restrung it.

GG: When did you first perform publicly?

ES: At a school Halloween Carnival, I appeared as Taylor Swift and performed “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story.”

GG: What made you decide to turn professional?

ES: I had been doing kids’ birthday parties at home until I went to college, but when I started college, I had to build a new audience, so I decided to market my Taylor Swift skills by putting up a Facebook page. I put up TaylorSwiftTribute with a few videos that I took myself. I got some bookings working kids’ birthday parties and nursing homes, but it resulted in getting a call from Legends in Concert in Myrtle Beach in early 2014.

GG: How long have you been performing Taylor Swift professionally?

ES: If you go from the very beginning to right now, it’s been just about a year, but for ten months of that year, I was finishing my degree in school.

GG: Where did you perform your first gig as Taylor Swift?

ES: It was during my spring break 2014 at BorderFest in Hidalgo, TX.

GG: How long have you been performing Taylor Swift for Legends in Concert?

ES: Last summer [2014], I performed for Legends in Concert in Myrtle Beach, SC. My contract expired just a few days before I returned to school for my final year.

GG: What’s the most challenging part of portraying the character of Taylor Swift?

ES:  Balancing the up-to-the-minute details about what Taylor is doing or how she looks with the general look, actions and perceptions that my general audiences expect.

GG: Have you ever met Taylor Swift personally or been to her concerts?

ES: I have never met her, but I have attended some of her concerts and will attend one in September [2015.]

GG: Before we go into the more Branson-related questions, is there anything you want to add?

ES: It’s like a dream come true for me. I would have been happy playing birthday parties and nursing homes, but I am so happy that Legends picked me up.

GG: Is this your first time performing in Branson?

ES: Yes.

GG: Have you ever been to Branson before?

ES: No.

GG: What did you expect when you found out you were coming to Branson for the first time?

ES: I had no idea.

GG: Have you ever heard of Branson, and if so, what have you heard?

ES: Yes. That it was a small country version of Las Vegas.

GG: Now that you’ve been here for a while, what is your first impression of Branson?

ES:  I think that it’s a really neat place with special character, a small-town feel, and a lot going on.

GG: What do you like best about performing in Branson?

ES: The people are so friendly and appreciative.

GG: What’s your favorite thing to do in Branson when you are not performing?

ES: I enjoy hiking the local trails and do that about every day.

GG: If you could perform or meet with any entertainer or person (living or deceased), outside of Taylor Swift, who would it be and why?

ES: The Beatles because they are the definition of a legend.

GG:  Do you have a favorite hobby or activity? What is it?

ES: Hiking with “Rerun,” my Black Lab.

GG: Do you have a little-known fact about yourself that you think our readers would enjoy?

ES: I am the exact same height as Taylor Swift.

GG: What is the funniest thing that has happened to you while performing in front of an audience?

ES: I was performing, and one of my boots split open, so I had to stop and take them off in the middle of the set. I gave them to a girl in the audience and finished the set in mismatched polka-dot socks.

GG: What part of your current act do you enjoy performing the most and why?

ES: The song “Blank Space” because of its high energy and dramatic interaction with our male dancers.

GG: What is your favorite Taylor Swift song and why?

ES: “Wildest Dreams” because it’s so beautiful, romantic and leaves you questioning.

GG: What is your favorite non-Taylor Swift song, and why?

ES: I love Jason Pritchett’s new song, “Good Show.”

GG: Where do you go when you leave Branson?

ES: I will perform for five months in Las Vegas with Legends in Concert.

GG: Are you looking forward to coming back to Branson?

ES: I absolutely love Branson and am so excited about coming back.

GG: You took a break from performing your tribute act and recently started performing again. Why did you take the break?

EB: I got married, the COVID situation, focusing on my family, and I was blessed to have my babies back to back.

GG: When did you start performing again?

EB: Regularly a few months ago [early 2024].

GG: Are you back performing with “Legends in Concert?

EB: Yes, working with Legends all over the country and with Jeannie and Rob in Branson.

GG: How do you and Legends ensure that your current Taylor Swift tribute show is a high-quality experience for the audience?

EB: Legends and I work really hard to ensure that this is a world-class show that mirrors her Eras Tour. This includes new costumes, music, choreography and exciting extras that Legends in Concert Branson adds to the show.

GG: What are your current favorite Taylor Swift songs?

EB: I have two main favorites: “Wildest Dreams” and “All Too Well (10-minute version),” which she considers one of her all-time favorites. She also mentions that her daughter’s middle name, “Ivy,” is another of my favorite Taylor Swift songs.

GG: Will “All Too Well” be featured in the show?

EB: One of the versions of “All Too Well” will be in the show, and I play guitar in it.

GG: What part of your current act do you enjoy the most?

EB: The acoustic set and meeting everybody who comes to the shows afterward.

GG: Would you introduce us to your husband and children?

EB: Absolutely. I am married to Walt Burnett, and we have two children: a son, Lucas, who is two [three] years old, and a daughter, Lydia, one [two] years old.