Ancestry Confirms Connection Between Taylor Swift and Renowned Poet Emily Dickinson

Ancestry Reveals Taylor Swift Is Related to Late Poet Emily Dickinson

Taylor Swift. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Taylor Swift and the famous poet Emily Dickinson are officially related. Fans had a hunch that the pop star might have a family connection to the late American poet, who passed away at 55 in 1886. Today confirmed on Monday, March 4, that the two are actually sixth cousins, three times removed.

Ancestry.com revealed that both Swift and Dickinson can trace their roots back to a 17th century English immigrant. This ancestor was Swift's ninth great-grandfather and Dickinson's sixth great-grandfather, who was one of the early settlers of Windsor, Connecticut.

According to Ancestry, Taylor Swift's ancestors stayed in Connecticut for six generations before eventually moving to northwestern Pennsylvania. It was there that they married into the Swift family line.

In 2020, fans began to speculate that Taylor Swift, who is 34 years old, might have a connection to poet Emily Dickinson. This speculation arose when Swift announced her ninth studio album, Evermore, on Dickinson's birthday, December 10.

Following the release of the album the next day, listeners started to draw parallels between Swift's song "Ivy" and Dickinson's love letters to her late sister-in-law, Sue Dickinson, who passed away at the age of 82 in 1913.

In Emily's poem "One Sister have I in our house," there is a stanza that goes, "I spilt the dew / But took the morn / I chose this single star / From out the wide night’s numbers / Sue – forevermore!"

Ancestry Reveals Taylor Swift Is Related to Late Poet Emily Dickinson

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Similarly, Swift’s “Ivy” references spirits, leading fans to believe it was written from Sue’s perspective.

Evermore was once again linked to Emily's poem when Swift sang the lyrics, "I had a feeling so peculiar / That this pain would be for evermore" in the song "Evermore," reminding fans of Emily's famous "forevermore" line.

In 2022, fans started to connect the family histories of the two artists through social media. One excited TikTok user commented, "SHE'S RELATED TO EMILY DICKINSON omg," while another expressed disbelief, saying, "Woahhh seriously?!!? Is this reaaaal?!?" A third social media user added, "This is probably the best swifty tok I've ever seen," showing their enthusiasm for the connection between Swift and Emily Dickinson.

In a December 2020 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Swift shared about Folklore, the sister album of Evermore. She mentioned her idea for the album cover, envisioning a girl sleepwalking through a forest in a nightgown in 1830.

Interestingly, 1830 happens to be the year Emily was born.

Swift has not publicly addressed her connection to the poet, but she mentioned Emily when she received the Nashville Songwriters Association International award for Songwriter-Artist of the Decade in 2022.

During her acceptance speech, Swift humorously said, "If my lyrics give off the vibe of a letter penned by Emily Dickinson's great-grandmother while she was busy sewing a lace curtain, then that's me sticking to the Quill genre."

Editor's P/S:

The discovery of Taylor Swift's relation to Emily Dickinson is a fascinating revelation that underscores the enduring legacy of both women. The fact that they are sixth cousins, three times removed, adds a tangible connection to their shared literary and artistic sensibilities. Swift's appreciation for Dickinson's poetry is evident in her work, particularly in the album "Evermore," which contains subtle nods to Dickinson's themes and language.

This revelation not only enhances our understanding of Swift's artistic influences but also highlights the interconnectedness of creative minds across time. It is a testament to the power of poetry and music to transcend generations and inspire artists of all kinds. The discovery of this familial bond adds a new layer to the tapestry of their creative legacies, reminding us that the human experience is often shaped by both the past and the present.