“Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade Shocks Viewers with Country Singer’s Incredible Similarity to Taylor Swift”
|A newcomer in country music impressed millions at a recent holiday event with her powerful performance and striking resemblance to a global pop icon.
Dasha, born Anna Dasha Novotny, captivated audiences with her performance at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 24-year-old country singer from California performed her hit single “Austin (Boots Stop Workin’)” and quickly became a social media sensation, not only for her music but also due to a surprising reason.
The “Make A Scene” singer took the stage on a vibrant float, wearing a bold and festive outfit. She donned a striking red leather corset with matching mini shorts, topped with a cream feather-trimmed coat that added a glamorous yet practical touch to protect against the rainy, chilly Thanksgiving weather.
Her look was finished with knee-high white boots, loose golden waves flowing over her shoulders, and a bold red lip that perfectly complemented the entire outfit.
On Instagram, the rising star expressed her gratitude for the opportunity, writing, “a lot to be thankful for this year ❤️ thank you so much for having me @macys [sic]!!!!” Her post featured photos from her performance, showcasing her dynamic stage presence and bold, holiday-themed outfit.
While her performance earned applause from parade-goers, Dasha’s appearance sparked a wave of online discussions due to her striking resemblance to pop star Taylor Swift. Fans and viewers shared their thoughts on various platforms, with some finding the comparison amusing, while others praised her talent.
One user commented, “When you order Taylor Swift from Temu.” Another agreed, saying, “Am I the only one who thinks Dasha looks and sounds just like Taylor Swift?” A similar comment read, “Dasha looking like Taylor Swift…”
Not everyone dismissed Dasha as just a lookalike. One netizen noted, “It’s easy to write off Dasha as a Taylor Swift clone, but I see some legit talent here [sic].” However, opinions varied widely, with one person commenting, “What’s a Dasha? I thought it was a Taylor Swift impersonator [sic],” and another questioning, “Is this Dasha trying to look like Swift, or were they just made in the same pop factory?”
Critiques of her performance and styling also emerged. One viewer remarked, “So anyone watching the @NBCPhiladelphia parade? Why did they have to dress @dasha like Taylor Swift? That outfit was not a good look for that song either.” Another user, seemingly unimpressed, wrote, “This Dasha person at the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade is annoying.”
“Watching the Macy’s Day parade and Dasha just performed—just my personal opinion, but she’s not trying to be a Taylor Swift wanna-be, is she [sic]?” wondered another netizen.
Despite the mixed feedback, some viewers celebrated her appearance and performance. One fan shared, “Really excited to see @dasha__music and the @KCRangerettes at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Way to represent Texas!”
Ahead of her dazzling performance, Dasha shared a candid behind-the-scenes glimpse on TikTok. Sitting in the backseat of a car with a drink in hand, the young artist gave a detailed account of the early morning start to her day.
“Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Turkey Day. I’m on the way to the Macy’s Day Parade. Full glam, girls. Been up since like 4:30. It’s raining freaking cats and dogs. And I’m gonna be standing on a float for two hours in the rain waving, and then at the end, I perform ‘Austin’ at 9:53 Eastern and Pacific time. So, by the way, tune in and watch me slay…” she shared.
Despite the rain, Dasha’s excitement was palpable as she humorously described her bold red lipstick, saying it looked like “Mrs. Claus had a night out.” She admitted that standing in the rain for hours could be challenging, but for her, being part of the prestigious event made it all worthwhile. This candid glimpse into her day endeared her to fans, highlighting her determination and sense of humor.
Dasha’s journey with “Austin” has been a transformative one. In an April 2024 interview with Eamonn Kelly on Smooth Radio, she opened up about the inspiration behind the song and the rapid changes it brought to her life. Speaking candidly, Dasha shared the raw emotions that fueled her writing process.
“I was really angry. As you can probably tell, I was pretty upset,” recalled the “Nervous” songstress. “No, it’s funny. I’d never been to Austin when I wrote the song. But if you think about it, the song’s not really about the city of Austin. It’s more about the excuses this guy would make up and our relationship.”
She went on to add, “And I was, like, in this year-and-a-half situationship with this guy in Nashville, and I was just… At a certain point, ‘Austin’ is, like, the breaking point on my album, where I realized, wow, I’ve actually been letting you treat me so poorly. I’m not gonna do that anymore.”
The artist also revealed how she came up with the song’s name. “And so it was, like, my moment of taking, almost, like, my pride and my strength back, being like, I’m leaving you here. Drunk washed up in Austin. Of course, it wasn’t actually drunk washed up in Austin. It was drunk washed up in Nashville. But Austin sounded better, so. Period.”
Dasha reflected on how her life changed after the song’s release, particularly as she entered the country music scene through major events like the CMT Awards.
“I mean, it was just wild. And during rehearsals a few days before, ’cause we got in, I think, on Wednesday or so, and Thursday, Friday, Saturday, we were all rehearsing for the show.”
Dasha’s rise in country music isn’t limited to her chart success. Earlier this year, she made her debut at the CMT Awards, where she performed “Austin.” Recalling the experience, she shared how welcomed she felt by country music’s biggest stars.
“I met Kelsea Ballerini backstage, and she was so, so sweet, such an angel. Lainey Wilson… was giving me big sisterly advice,” Dasha said, adding that she was unsure how the industry’s “newbie” vibe would be. To her surprise, everyone was “unbelievably welcoming.”
Dasha also attended the prestigious CMA Awards, rubbing shoulders with country music icons like Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Post Malone, Lainey Wilson, and Luke Combs. Reflecting her gratitude for the milestone, Dasha shared on Instagram, “Still can’t believe I didn’t have to sneak in this year…thanks for having me @cma 🩷.”
She attended the awards evening in a light purple strapless gown with intricate cutouts, embodying sophistication as she celebrated alongside the biggest names in country music.
From her electrifying performance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to her growing list of accolades, Dasha has proven she’s a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. With her candid personality and undeniable talent, Dasha continues to captivate fans, proving that she’s much more than just a lookalike. She’s an artist making her mark, one milestone at a time.