To further convince you that Taylor Swift belongs in the Tortured Poets Department, a new report has revealed that the singer is related to legendary American poet Emily Dickinson.
As reported by Today, Swift and Dickinson both descend from a 17th century English immigrant who settled in Windsor, Connecticut. The genealogy company Ancestry, who conducted the heritage test, found that Swift and Dickinson are sixth cousins, three times removed. “Taylor Swift’s ancestors remained in Connecticut for six generations until her part of the family eventually settled in northwestern Pennsylvania, where they married into the Swift family line,” Ancestry’s report reads.
As many Swifties know, Taylor has oft been inspired by 19th century poets such as Dickinson, and slyly referenced them in her pair of 2020 albums folklore and evermore. With her new album Tortured Poets Department set for release on April 12th, Swift is rumored to be reprising the softer folk sounds from folklore, making the Ancestry connection with Dickinson an apt place for Swift to draw inspiration from.
Emily Dickinson, meanwhile, has been dead for over a hundred years, so don’t expect any family reunions or guest verses in the future (unless Swift is indeed an undead harbinger of chaos capable of resurrection and possession, which, of course she’s not, right? Right???).
Taylor Swift and the ghosts of her ancestry will be reprising “The Eras Tour” this year, with dates to come in the UK, Europe, and North America. See her upcoming tour dates here, and get tickets here.