At Taylor Swift’s 2021 Grammys performance, she sang “Cardigan” immediately before “August.” The two songs were presented as part of a medley that concluded with “Willow.”
The performance took place at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021. Swift began while lying atop a cottage, then moved inside it for “August,” before the staging shifted outdoors for “Willow.”
“Cardigan” and “August” are linked within Folklore’s fictional love triangle. “Cardigan” is told from Betty’s perspective, while “August” follows the unnamed girl involved with James during the summer. Their placement together onstage reinforced the album’s interconnected storytelling.
A common mistake is to answer “Willow,” because it was part of the same medley. However, “Willow” came after “August,” and it belongs to Evermore rather than Folklore.