Connections Between Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson Unveiled, Shedding New Light on Their Similarities

Connections Between Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson Unveiled, Shedding New Light on Their Similarities

Discover the intriguing link between Taylor Swift and renowned poet Emily Dickinson, providing insights into their shared creative essence. Unveil the significance behind Taylor Swift's album title "The Tortured Poets Department" in light of this newfound connection.

Taylor Swift's upcoming album title, "The Tortured Poets Department," seems to be quite fitting. Ancestry, a company that assists individuals in tracing their family history, has made an interesting discovery. They have found proof that Swift is actually distantly related to the well-known poet Emily Dickinson.

"We have some exciting news to share, but let's try to stay calm!" a recent post on Ancestry's Instagram account exclaims. According to the post, famous American poets Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson are actually 6th cousins, three times removed.

CNN has contacted Swift's representative for a response, and the news was initially reported on NBC's "Today" show.

Emily Dickinson, who lived from 1830 to 1886, is famous for her poems like “Because I could not stop for Death” and “‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers.”

The writer was well-known during her lifetime and even wrote about fame, similar to her distant cousin. In her poem, “Success is counted sweetest,” Dickinson expressed, “Success is counted sweetest/By those who ne’er succeed/ To comprehend a nectar/ Requires sorest need.”

"Ancestry reports that both Swift and Dickinson have roots tracing back to a 17th-century English immigrant. Swift's 9th great-grandfather and Dickinson's 6th great-grandfather were early settlers in Windsor, Connecticut."

American poet Emily Dickinson in a portrait taken around 1850.

American poet Emily Dickinson in a portrait taken around 1850.

American poet Emily Dickinson in a portrait taken around 1850.

Three Lions/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Fans of Taylor Swift have noticed a special connection between her and poet Emily Dickinson.

Taylor Swift announced her album "Evermore" on December 10, 2020, coincidentally on Dickinson's birthday. Some fans believe that the album title was inspired by Dickinson's poem "One Sister Have I in Our House," which contains the word "forevermore."

Two years later, Swift mentioned the famous writer in her speech after winning the songwriter-artist of the decade award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

She shared that her lyrics can be categorized into three genres: quill lyrics, fountain pen lyrics, and glitter gel pen lyrics, inspired by the writing instrument she pictures herself using while writing.

"If my lyrics give off a vibe of a letter penned by Emily Dickinson’s great-grandmother stitching a lace curtain, that’s me in the quill genre," Swift explained, mentioning that her song "Ivy" from the album "Evermore" fits into this category.

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Editor's P/S:

The discovery that Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson are distant cousins is a fascinating and unexpected revelation. It's intriguing to imagine the connections that can exist between seemingly unrelated individuals, and it raises questions about the ways in which our ancestors' lives and experiences may shape our own.

The shared passion for poetry between Swift and Dickinson is particularly compelling. While they lived in different centuries and expressed themselves in distinct styles, their words have touched the lives of countless people. Swift's acknowledgment of Dickinson's influence in her own songwriting suggests a deep appreciation for the literary tradition she is part of. It's a reminder that art and creativity can transcend time and generations, connecting us with those who came before us and inspiring us to create something new.