What do a pop icon and a poet have in common? You might be surprised they share more than just a passion for words and music. They also share a bloodline.
Indeed, according to Ancestry.com, the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the 19th-century American poet Emily Dickinson are related. They are sixth cousins, three times removed. Both are descendants of a 17th-century English immigrant who was an early settler of Windsor, Connecticut.
Taylor Swift, a globally recognized singer-songwriter, was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 1989. Her music is recognized for its sincere lyrics and memorable melodies. She began professional songwriting at the age of 14. Swift has so far sold over 200 million records and won multiple Grammy Awards.
Emily Dickinson, born on December 10, 1830, in Amherst, Massachusetts, is considered one of the most influential figures in American poetry. She lived much of her life in seclusion and only published a few poems during her lifetime. Dickinson is renowned for her unconventional style of poetry, characterized by short lines, unique capitalization and punctuation, and themes of death and immortality.
Fans link Swift’s album Evermore to Dickinson. It was released on Dickinson’s birthday. Swift mentions Dickinson in her songwriting discussions. Their shared ancestry connects music and poetry through time.
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) MARCH 4, 2024
How did Ancestry.com discover this link?
Ancestry.com uses a combination of historical records and DNA testing to determine relationships between individuals.
Ancestry.com offers a wealth of genealogical data: census, birth, death, and immigration records. Users can create family trees and link individuals in their tree to these historical records. The system then calculates relationships based on the data in the tree.
In addition to historical records, Ancestry.com offers DNA testing services. Users can send a saliva sample to the company and receive a report on their ethnicity, origins, and genetic matches. The system compares the user’s DNA to a reference database of over 18 million people who have taken the test. The system then identifies potential relatives based on the amount of shared DNA.
Ancestry.com traced Swift and Dickinson’s lineage through history and DNA. It unveiled their surprising connection.
What does this link mean for their fans and admirers?
The connection between Swift and Dickinson goes beyond just lineage. It makes you wonder about possible influences or similar artistic tastes over time. Swift and Dickinson convey feelings and life through their art, touching many. They’ve both encountered obstacles like sexism and media critique. Despite challenges, they’ve stayed strong in following their paths.
This link also invites fans and admirers to explore the works of both artists and discover new insights and connections. Some fans see similarities between Swift’s lyrics and Dickinson’s poems. They both feature nature imagery, metaphors, and personal pronouns. Some fans have also created mashups of Swift’s songs and Dickinson’s poems, such as “Blank Space” “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” or “You Belong With Me” and “Because I could not stop for Death”.
The link between Swift and Dickinson is a fascinating example of how art and history can intersect in unexpected ways. It also shows how two seemingly different artists can share a common heritage and legacy. As Swift once said,
“I think Emily Dickinson is my favorite poet. She wrote about hope and love most eloquently and beautifully.”
Perhaps Taylor Swift and Dickinson are not so different after all. Maybe they are both poets of the heart.
