Jenny Han reveals how Taylor Swift said yes to ‘TSITP’ music request

Jenny Han, the writer and showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty, shared how she got permission from Taylor Swift to use her songs in the series.

In an episode of Jenna Bush Hager’s Open Book podcast, Han recalled her efforts to secure at least one song of Swift for the season one finale.

“I was kind of trying to inception it into everyone’s heads that we need this,” she said. “I don’t think anyone thought we were gonna get it, honestly.”

She said she was ready to do “whatever it took” to feature The Way I Loved You from Fearless (Taylor’s Version) in the finale episode.

A representative from Amazon Music advised Han to write a letter to Swift on why the song was essential for the series.

“I wrote a handwritten note about how much it would mean not just to me but to the fans. That was the gift I really wanted to give because I’m like, ‘They’re gonna go crazy for this.”

Luckily, the series got more than one song to feature in its episodes. The soundtracks in season one revolved around romantic moments between Belly (Lola Tung) and her crush on Conrad (Christopher Briney), including, Cruel Summer, Lover, The Way I Loved You and This Love.

Season two, on the other hand, highlighted their turbulent relationship with songs like, August, Sweet Nothing, Delicate, Bigger Than the Whole Sky and Exile.

“I felt like Taylor is someone who bets on women. And I felt like she bet on me,” Han added on the podcast. “And I can’t say enough how thankful I am that she let us use her music. And I think she knows, too, her fans would like the show.”

The Summer I Turned Pretty season one and two is available on the streaming platform, with season three slated for release in the summer of 2025.