Lola Tung, the star of The Summer I Turned Pretty, is revealing a heartwarming moment from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour 2023 that left her completely starstruck.
In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on July 15, Tung shared how she and her co-stars Gavin Casalegno and Christopher Briney had a memorable interaction with Swift during the concert.
Tung, 22, recalled sitting near the stage when Swift noticed them. “We were right by the stage, and she looked at us, and she kind of waved and was like, ‘I love you guys,’” Tung said. She then mimicked the heart gesture Swift made in their direction. “I nearly passed out. It was great,” she added, still in awe of the moment.
Tung attended the concert with Jenny Han, the author of the 2009 novel that the hit Prime Video series The Summer I Turned Pretty is based on. They were in a prime spot when Swift performed “False God”, a song that also plays a part in the show.
Tung shared that the moment was met with excitement, saying, “We were right by the stage when she played ‘False God,’ which was also on the show,” drawing applause from the audience.
Taylor Swift and The Summer I Turned Pretty
When Fallon asked Tung about her favorite Swift song featured on The Summer I Turned Pretty, Tung struggled to pick just one. “‘The Way I Loved You’ is a great one. ‘Delicate’ is great as well,” she said, expressing her long-time love for Swift’s music.
“I’ve been a Taylor Swift fan for a really long time,” Tung added. “I used to listen to Fearless, Speak Now, and Red on my CD player when I was younger. When I would go to sleep, I would listen to them.”
Swift’s music, known for its exploration of young womanhood and the intricacies of romantic relationships, has been an integral part of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
The show’s love triangle between Belly Conklin (Tung) and brothers Conrad Fisher (Briney) and Jeremiah Fisher (Casalegno) echoes themes present in many of Swift’s songs. The emotional complexity of the characters aligns with Swift’s poignant lyrics.
Season 3 and Swift’s Music
In the trailer for The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3, fans get a sneak peek of Conrad seeking advice from Belly’s best friend Taylor (played by Rain Spencer) about how to win Belly back.
The trailer also features two of Swift’s songs: “Daylight” from Lover accompanies a montage of Jeremiah, while the title track “Red” plays when Conrad makes his entrance, setting the stage for more drama.
A significant lyric from “Red” — “Loving him comes in flashbacks, and echoes” — mirrors Belly’s inner monologue in the trailer, perfectly capturing the emotional turmoil that defines the love triangle.
Jenny Han’s Efforts to Get Swift’s Music in the Show
The Summer I Turned Pretty’s showrunner Jenny Han revealed on Jenna Bush Hager’s podcast, Open Book, that she had a clear idea of which Swift song she wanted for the season, especially for the emotional moments between the characters.
She joked that she was “trying to inception it into everyone’s heads,” knowing how much the fans would appreciate it.
To make it happen, Han went the extra mile, even writing a handwritten note to Taylor Swift to express how much the song would mean to the show’s fans. “It was the gift I really wanted to give,” Han said, believing Swift’s music would resonate deeply with the fans of the series.
Swift’s Music on the Show
Several songs from Taylor Swift’s discography have been featured on The Summer I Turned Pretty, including “Back to December,” “False God,” “Delicate,” “Hey Stephen,” and “Cruel Summer”.
These tracks provide the perfect soundtrack to the series, intensifying the emotional moments and adding another layer of depth to the storytelling.
What’s Next for The Summer I Turned Pretty Fans
Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty is set to premiere with the first two episodes on Prime Video on Wednesday, July 16. Fans of the show and Taylor Swift alike are in for an emotional and music-filled ride as the final season brings all the drama to a head.
