Billy Joel Defends Taylor Swift as New York City's Tourism Ambassador: 'Piano Man' Says 'Let Her In'

Hey, New York, Billy Joel wants you to be nice to Taylor Swift. The "Piano Man" is not happy with the way some of The Big Apple's press have been treating the "Shake It Off" singer after she became the city's tourism ambassador last month. Joel, a Long Island native, does not care that Swift is from Pennsylvania and spent the majority of her career in Nashville. He welcomes her with open arms.

"I see the New York press going, 'Taylor Swift is going to be the new New York representative?'" the singer told USA Today. "You snoots. Let her in. That's what New York is all about. I say, 'Welcome.'"

Swift made the announcement in October about her new position on Good Morning America, Rolling Stone noted.

"I'm still learning, but I'm so enthusiastic about this city that when I love something, I'm very vocal about it," she said. "New York was a huge landscape for what became this album. It's affected my life in ways I'm not even aware of fully."

Joel also revealed that he digs Swift's songwriting abilities. He said she takes some flak because of her popularity among young females, but Joel hears what she is saying in her songs.

"... I like what she's projecting. I respect what she's doing," he added.

The "Blank Space" singer released a statement explaining why she chose to start her album with the tune "Welcome to New York." She said the city has been important in her career over the last few years.

"It's like an electric city, and I approached moving there with such wide-eyed optimism," she said. "I saw New York as a place of endless potential and possibilities, and you can hear that reflected in this music and in this song."

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Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, New york city, Shake It Off, Blank Space