Bye Bye, American Pie: Taylor Swift Just Beat A Nearly Half-Century Record, Then Pays Respect To Artist

Pop star Taylor Swift this week saw her hit song "All Too Well" break folk-rock singer Don McLean’s "American Pie" record for the longest song at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

McLean's song had held the record since 1972. "All Too Well" is about 10 minutes long, while McLean's song is under nine minutes.

The milestone wasn't lost on Swift, who reached out to McLean. The 31-year-old paid her respect by sending McLean flowers, along with a note.

“What a class act!” McLean posted on Instagram about Swift's gesture. “Thank you Taylor Swift for the flowers and note.”

McLean also posted a picture of the note.

"I will never forget that I'm standing on the shoulders of giants," the card read. "Your music has been so important to me. Sending love one writer of LONG SONGS to another."

McLean had also touched on the milestone on his website.

“There is something to be said for a great song that has staying power,” he said.

There are two versions of Swift's song on the album "Red" -- one is 5:29 long, and an extended version is 10:13 long. Although Swift admits the extended version of the song ended up being an "absurd length," she said in an interview on "Late Night With Seth Myers" that she is "so proud of this version of it... I think this version is the version of the song that was meant to be heard.”

"Let’s face it, nobody ever wants to lose that #1 spot," McLean said. "But if I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor.”

McLean, 76, released his first studio album in 1970. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.