Taylor Swift and Emily Dickinson are related, now it all makes sense!

Evidently, Taylor Swift has a way with words, which as it turns out, is deeply rooted in her family history. According to Ancestry, an American genealogy company, the ‘Love Story’ singer and the legendary American poet, Emily Dickinson are actually sixth cousins, thrice removed. This is pretty cool, considering the title of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, which hints at her love for writing, and now we know about her poetry genes too!

“Swift and Dickinson both descend from a 17th-century English immigrant (Swift’s 9th great-grandfather and Dickinson’s 6th great-grandfather who was an early settler of Windsor, Connecticut),” Ancestry shared on Monday, March 4. A little too good to be true, isn't it? But well, are we really surprised? 

Dickinson’s influence on Swift’s work has always been evident

Interestingly, Swift herself has acknowledged Dickinson’s influence by creating a specific songwriting category inspired by the 19th-century poet. “If my lyrics sound like a letter written by Emily Dickinson’s great-grandmother while sewing a lace curtain, that’s me writing in the Quill genre, she said in 2022 while receiving the Songwriter-Artist of the Decade Award from the Nashville Songwriters Association International.

Breaking down the connection between the two artists

Fans have also drawn connections between Swift’s work and Dickinson’s legacy. The release date of Swift’s 9th studio album, Evermore coincides with Dickinson’s birthday—December 10, 2020. Swift’s attention to detail further connects her to Dickinson; the latter's poem, One Sister Have I in Our House features the word “forevermore,” which basically sums up the title of Swift’s album. Moreover, a few days before the Evermore album announcement, the singer discussed the cover art for Folklore, mentioning an initial concept of “a girl sleepwalking through the forest in a nightgown in 1830,” which is the year Dickinson was born.

The revelation of Swift and Dickinson’s distant kinship adds another dimension to Swift’s talent, potentially explaining her penchant for poetic lyricism and her connection to the world of 19th-century literature. The poetic connection between these two artists, separated by centuries but united by blood, adds a fascinating layer to the ongoing narrative of Swifterature. Dickinson definitely lives on in her distant cousin, Taylor Swift and we’re pretty sure Swift will do (and is already doing) justice to her iconic legacy!

Emily Dickinson’s image credits: National Endowment for the Humanities 

Also Read: The Tortured Poets Department: Breaking down every song title in Taylor Swift’s newest album

Also Read: Swifterature: How Taylor Swift's music exhibits her love for English Literature