Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik Recalls the One Thing That Stood Out About Taylor Swift During Speak Now Tour Collab (Exclusive)
Goo Goo Dolls' John Rzeznik Recalls the One Thing That Stood Out About Taylor Swift During Speak Now Tour Collab (Exclusive)
Lexi Lane, Mark GraySun, May 31, 2026 at 4:30 PM UTC
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John Rzeznik; Taylor Swift
Credit: Tom Cooper/Getty; Phillip Faraone/Getty
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John Rzeznik praised Taylor Swift's professionalism and organization during their 2011 Speak Now tour collaboration
The two performed the Goo Goo Dolls' hit “Iris,” which Swift called “one of the greatest songs ever written”
The Buffalo-born band is celebrating their 40th anniversary with a summer tour following their 2026 AMAs nomination for Best Throwback Song for “Iris”
Goo Goo Dolls frontman John Rzeznik is reminiscing about getting to sing with Taylor Swift on tour.
While at the 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday, May 25, the "Slide" singer, 60, recalled something that stood out to him about working with Swift, 36, during her 2011 Speak Nowtour.
The pop star was only in her early 20s at the time, but Rzeznik remembered that she had a smart approach and was very organized.
“What impressed me, because at the time she was still very young, and I expected a bunch of handlers to come and deal with me because I was a guest, but she did,” he told PEOPLE. “I just remember thinking, 'This woman's got her s--- together.' "
Taylor Swift and John Rzeznik perform "Iris" in N.Y.C. on Nov. 21, 2011
Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty
Rzeznik and Swift performed the Buffalo-born band's hit song “Iris” during her 2011 Speak Now tour stop in New York City. She called it “one of the greatest songs ever written.”
Fifteen years later, the Goo Goo Dolls were nominated for Best Throwback Song for "Iris" at Monday's AMAs. The single, first released in 1998, was previously nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 1999 Grammy Awards.
“I think when the song came out, it served a purpose in the film City of Angels, but the film kind of faded away," Rzeznik explained of the song's enduring popularity.
"The song just never did, which is odd, and then I think that it connected more after that. And then I got to sing with Taylor Swift, and then all these other people just started covering it,” he continued.
As for whether Rzeznik would ever perform at Swift and fiancé Travis Kelce's upcoming wedding, he shared that he would be more than happy to — but only if approached.
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“If I were asked, I would do it,” he said.
Rzeznik and his bandmate, Robby Takac, 61, brought their daughters to the AMAs, where they posed together on the carpet before the show.
Liliana, 9, is Rzeznik's daughter with wife Melina Gallo, while Hana, 14, is Takac's daughter with wife Miyoko.
Speaking with PEOPLE in 2019, Rzeznik shared how touring had changed since he and Takac became dads.
John Rzeznik with daughter Liliana at the American Music Awards on May 25, 2026
Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
“There's no booze, no drugs, no girls,” he explained with a laugh. “There's children and babies and dogs and cousins and uncles and aunts. And I love it — I'm having so much [more] fun this way than that way.”
Both Liliana and Gallo joined him on the tour at the time. “[Liliana] loves to ride the bus and she loves being on the stage,” he said. “During sound check, I'll bring her out on the stage, and she loves the lights and everything. She dances on the stage. She's awesome; that kid is so funny.”
“She loves to watch me play,” Rzeznik added. “She's got her big ear muffs on so she doesn't hurt her ears. She stands on the side of the stage with her mom, then she gets tired and goes to sleep.”
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As for what's next for the band, the Goo Goo Dolls are headed out on a summer tour to commemorate the 40th anniversary of their formation.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
