Taylor Swift thrilled a Bluebird Cafe audience in Nashville Saturday night with a surprise appearance, sitting in with singer-songwriter Craig Wiseman. The two, who are old friends, met at a charity show when Swift was just a teen.

Her performance was filmed for a documentary in honor of Bluebird Cafe’s 35th anniversary, and she acknowledged just how special the venue has been to Nashville writers throughout its history. It has special significance for the pop star as well, since Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta saw her play there when she was in the 8th grade and offered her a label deal.

Swift also talked about “Better Man,” which she wrote and Little Big Town Recorded, and how it felt to have another artist experience success with a song you’ve penned.

“When I would play writers nights … I didn’t have the experience of a writer writing something and then it going out into the world and you earing it from someone else’s perspective until recently,” Swift told the Tennessean. “Little Big Town gave me the opportunity to feel that way … to be at the Bluebird and play a song you’ve maybe heard on the radio.  I will always be forever grateful to them for that.”

Wiseman and Swift traded shots of Fireball Whisky during the special show along with songs and stories, recalling a CMT afterparty at Wiseman’s office years ago where the shots were flowing that resulted in a headache for Swift the next day. Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour launches in May and will visit Nashville’s Nissan Stadium Aug. 25.