Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift penned a track called “Ronan” in 2011, shortly ahead of the release of her “Red” album. The song bears a heartfelt backstory. Ronan was a child cancer patient who passed away at three years old. His mother, Maya Thompson, was documenting his life on a blog website called “Rockstar Ronan.” Swift stumbled upon Ronan’s story and contacted Thompson. The pair later cowrote the track in his honor.
Swift only performed “Ronan” twice throughout her lengthy career. Once, for the “Stand Up To Cancer” telethon in 2012 and later on her “1989” world tour, when her own mother Andrea Swift was diagnosed with cancer. Swift later penned “Soon You’ll Get Better” in honor of her mother.
The track references several of Thompson’s nicknames for her late son, and his death that came three days before his fourth birthday. Over a decade after the song’s release, Ronan would have turned 16 years old on May 12. Maya Thompson confirmed via Twitter that Taylor invited her to next week’s Philadelphia stop on “The Eras Tour” in honor of Ronan’s birthday.
May 12th. Ronan’s Day of Love. What would have been his 16th birthday. I’ll be at the Era’s Tour in Philadelphia thanks to @taylorswift13. I hope to see so many of you. xx pic.twitter.com/mIEV7EX3lD
— Mama Maya (@rockstarronan) May 3, 2023
Fan Reactions
Swifties offered words of support for Thompson in the comments. Many suspect that Swift plans to sing “Ronan” for only the third time live as the surprise song that night.
When she sings Ronan TV as the surprise song >>>> will be screaming at the top of my lungs. See you there! ❤️❤️❤️
— Joseph Campisi (@joecampp) May 3, 2023
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During “The Eras Tour,” many young fans are crafting friendship bracelets with Swift related slogans in the corresponding album era colors. One fan reminded Philadelphia concertgoers to bring bracelets for Thompson in Ronan’s honor.
i’ll be there in spirit! make sure to bring your bracelets yall!
— august ????️ (@erasaugustt) May 3, 2023
Thompson recently posted a TikTok (@mayaiswriting) about Ronan’s upcoming birthday, which she and her family commemorate annually as “Ronan’s Day of Love.” She confirmed in the TikTok comments that the singer personally extended the invite.
@mayaiswriting May 12th is Ronan’s Day of Love, a special day I have chosen to celebrate in honor of what would have been Ronan’s sixteenth birthday. For the past eleven years, I have been doing random acts of kindness for others as a way of honoring his memory and keeping his spirit alive. It is my way of making a positive impact in the world. I hope you will join me on this day by being extra spicy, sparkly, and selfless. If you are attending the Era’s tour in Philadelphia, I just found out I’ll be there, too. I’ll be the one with tears in my eyes in a purple dress because that was his favorite color. I can’t wait to spend Ronan’s birthday with @taylorswift and you. #ronan #ronantaylorsversion #erastour #fyp #ronansdayoflove #erastourphilly #frienshipbracelets #childhoodcancer #trending #1989 #swifttok #taylorswift
Thompson elaborated by saying that Swift continues to do kind things for the Thompson family behind the scenes.
????| Mama Maya shared that @TaylorSwift13 gifted her tickets. pic.twitter.com/dDa8cILURs
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) May 3, 2023
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Fans were touched to see their favorite singer maintain the friendship with the Thompson family for so many years. Many agreed to offer support to her during the upcoming emotional performance.
that nights suprrise song is gonna be ronan and i’m gonna break down
— – (@isayspeaknow) May 3, 2023
Taylor Swift hits Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 12.
